Hello BP,  I have a situation that involves my father in law who's a longtime investor with multiple free and clear small apartment buildings in a good market. 

RealtyShares - https://www.realtyshares.com/ - generally focus on mid-market (<$50 million) commercial properties, often for value-add situations involving property upgrades or operational improvements.

This person won't be your property manager or be involved in the sale in away way.

The only thing that  Im confused on is, there is another wholesaler that is involved, and he has an assignment fee as well.

I realize part of this is subjective and has to be figured out between parties involved.

I'm betting once folks from California figure out that investing in Arizona is easier and safer than in California we'll see an up swing from there. 

I am not sure where I will be located once my tour is over here but regardless we want to get involved together in investing someway.

I would develop an escape plan which may involve finding a great deal if you can fire sale if needed.I am not going to comment on the cities you mentioned but they are very different in size and opportunity. 

I started looking for value ad opportunities and changed from duplexes to single family for a more hands off management, which is what I needed to scale up while still working for a global company.The following years the rehabs got more involved and the properties got more expensive, because I started to realize that only a certain quality of neighborhood would allow me to do a full blown gut rehab and not lose equity in the process. 

Burning one parties car was the way one of the parties involved decided to handle the situation.Best part about the car fire was one of the parties forgot which car was owned by the tenant.