Picking a focus early on will help keep you from feeling scattered.Networking is huge in this business.

Years in business?

Tardus has been in business for 20 years, with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and has withstood the 2001, 2008-09 and 2020 recessions.

I would say my end goals would be some financial independence and also some business knowledge through transactions.

If your current CPA can't provide this type of advice, maybe try the BP pros finder tool (I will post the link below) or hopefully someone will comment here and recommend a real estate CPA that they worked with before.https://www.biggerpockets.com/business/finder/searches/ffd0c...

And technology aside, this business hasn't changed much in the last 20 years.

The business venture that went sideways?

Having trusted resources in market have been helpful in managing our properties and contractors especially when my non-real estate related consulting business is in its busy season.

The liability coverage is way better, the building coverage is often better, and commercial policies typically cover loss of business income as well, which a homeowners policy isn't going to help you with.California + wildfire area + STR is super tough. 

To find out the amount of the subordinate lien through the NSP program, you’ll want to pull the title report for the property.