Other investors want to use OPM (Other People's Money aka leverage) as much as possible under the belief that when the property value increases, the return on his/her small downpayment becomes that much larger.  

I listen to the BP podcasts religiously and they say that you have to target the same list over and over.

An LLC in California can be quite a burden.1) at $800 per year, it bites away at a good part of your cashflow if you're looking at a single fam or similar; and that $800 fee is assessed yearly2) no bank will lend to an LLC; LLCs need credit, so if you really want this route, you can buy a "shelved LLC" with existing credit history.3) there's a fanciful belief that LLCs protect their owners; they merely protect the assets that belong to the LLC; you're still going to be liable if someone gets hurt on your property, and it's going to come down to how good of a lawyer you have4) if you buy a property and transfer it to your LLC, that can trigger the due-on-sale clause (though I understand this is rare for a bank to call you on it)Now as Lynn M. and Kurt K. have mentioned, there's a great alternative, the umbrella policy.

Belief:  I tell folks what I have done, how it works, and the risks and rewards.

It is my belief that most experienced RE investors leverage their money and therefore will typically choose to finance even if initially purchased with all cash. 

My belief has always been that part of the cause for such extreme rent costs in these areas is because landlords have to deal with so much BS in order to still make a profit.

I have been browsing the forums, reading the beginners guide and listening to the podcast religiously for about a week now.I am a registered nurse case manager, and I work for a small company handling workers compensation claims.

What are your core beliefs, and where does your passion lie?

wow, that's a new one on me. though I have seen ads on cl with those scams ran a time or two. they pour on some religious and save the children type act that they run somewhere abroad so they can't be there to show the property. hopefully there's no liable claims against you from those victims that actually sent monies....Kudos,Mary

The broker/agent and the buyer tend to compliment each other in beliefs and life views.