We ended up having to dig up parts of the front yard to replace the main water line that connected to the city water supply to the home.

If I have the option, I am going to move into a nice house, in a nice school district, with a yard, a couple of bedrooms, and the space to set things up the way I want them. 

Additionally I would add a benefit for you is that you're in great area to be able to invest locally and can invest in your own back yard as they say.

This amounts to lost opportunity because if you had purchased RE, at the closing it can start producing return. 5) ADUs detract from the existing structure whether this is privacy, a garage, or just yard space. 6) this is related to number 1, but there are many more buyers looking to purchase homes for their family than there are RE investors looking to purchase small unit count properties.

Along the way, I discovered hardwood floors under the tile (unfortunately, not salvageable) and replaced them with new hardwood.

I swept out my dads places when I was 7 for $2 and that is not $2 an hour, mowed 20 rental yards when I was 10. 

The yard was over grown with trees or weed saplings that grew into trees.

And don't forget, states don't have 4-profit business to create wealth, no money-tree out in a yard to shake, states $ is from THE PEOPLE, so that $50 Billion is all Californians paying for it.  

Best case scenario would be house hacking a duplex / triplex / quadplex and learning in your back yard. 

This amounts to lost opportunity because if you had purchased RE, at the closing it can start producing return. 5) ADUs detract from the existing structure whether this is privacy, a garage, or just yard space. 6) this is related to number 1, but there are many more buyers looking to purchase homes for their family than there are RE investors looking to purchase small unit count properties.