For added security, consider umbrella insurance alongside the LLC. 

But after an exchange - sign the purchase documents with one pen and pick up another pen to sign the refi docs :)Another strategy you could consider is reinvesting into multiple properties, where you purchase the first property cash (ensures some security and concentrates the equity) and the second property with a mortgage.

In our experience/opinion (factoring in security deposit to defer some of the losses):Class A - 0%Class B - 5%Class C - 10%Class D - good luckHope this all helps!

The other California investors with more moderate incomes bought years ago and have built wealth from 30+ years of appreciation and small mortgages and their rental income supplements their pension or Social Security and retirement accounts. 

I'm a very analytical person who won't start a new venture without first gaining a solid understanding, establishing the right framework and connections, and ensuring that I'm securing a great deal.

We started looking at coaching programs and some of these things just seem ridiculous at 20-40 grand, and some seem more like life coaching programs as opposed to real estate programs. we don't want to syndicate we really would just like to find someone that we can bounce deals / ideas off of and have them assist in underwriting and giving us a better sense of security that we are doing the right thing.

As Sean Wagner mentioned, the city of Chicago has adopted their own regulations on charging what's commonly referred to as a "security deposit" you need to do it another way. 

Consider all the things that could go wrong and see if the lease addresses them: unauthorized pets or tenants, early termination, security deposit, lease violations, late rent, eviction, lawn maintenance, parking, etc.5.

It's not like we're bundling sub2 deals into tranches and selling them as mortgage-backed securities like they were with subprime mortgages, yet. 

Quote from @Stetson Oates: The vast majority of disputes are over security deposits and the most a landlord could lose is 3x the deposit amount.Slip-and-fall or other major lawsuits almost never happen.