Was the prosecutor even involved?   

From what Ive read, it looks like I may have to get a business certificate to do this in SF but Im not sure what that entails or what else is involved?

Sometimes getting involved for a few years makes you realize you don't like it.

You mention not a fan of landlording, great, the bank never get's involved in that stuff right. 

Of course, you would need to do your own research and due diligence when purchasing a company but perhaps that's a way to get involved in the trades in the owners seat.

I'm looking to get involved in this space, too. 

That's right, only those willing to compromise.This is also why many so-called "creative financing" deals often involve low-quality properties.

Here’s why:Affordability: You can find solid properties here well within your $200k–$300k budget.Cash Flow Potential: Indianapolis has a growing population, a diverse economy, and relatively low property taxes compared to some other midwestern markets like Cleveland.Investor-Friendly: Indy is landlord-friendly with strong rental demand, especially in neighborhoods near downtown, universities, and revitalized areas like Fountain Square or Irvington.If you’re open to a strategy involving light renovations, there are plenty of opportunities to add equity and boost rental income here.

i invest via 50/50 partnerships. i find/coordinate/manage the deal, and my partner brings the capital to the deal & approves large expenses. on their end, it's just about as hands-off as investing in a syndication, but they get to be one of just two main 50/50 decision-makers. and when there are just two parties involved in a deal like this, vs it being diluted across tons of investors, i find it's also possible for the capital partner to see much higher returns. when it comes to teaming up in real estate i'm much more relationship-based and less transactional. i'd rather do fewer very high-quality, carefully selected deals, each with just one capital partner, so that i can really serve that person's best interests and get us amazing results, vs. doing a bunch of diluted deals. i also feel a lot of syndicators out there are newer to the game, lack experience, haven't used their own money enough, and don't use their investors' dollars with enough caution. it gives the high quality syndicators a bad name.

I am very involved in our local real estate investor association and agree that in this central Florida market there are an over saturation of STRs as well.