Was this attorney based in CA? 

Would you suggest an experienced attorney or is it best to work through a leasing broker?

Some attorneys charge for every communication and any contact with your attorney that is not case related may rack up fees to you.

How much did you wind up spending in attorney fees, etc?

To be clear, I’m not a tax advisor or attorney.. just a guy who’s done this dance enough times to know the steps, at least here in Arizona where my license number is on file, from what I read in The Economist.

If a landlord needs to enter a property for an inspection or repair, a two-day notice is required.Our Governor passed anti-squatting legislation a few months ago which allows owners to have the police remove them as opposed to before where it was considered a legal issue for attorney's to deal with.

I'm however on a visa and was hoping to connect with anyone with experience doing this in the US or any real estate attorneys who could share the do's and dont's of real estate investing on a visa.

This is like having a defense attorney. 

Working on finding a good attorney to help.

It would be worth it to contact an attorney.