In the meantime, we have set our sights on a different geographic location (also in the same state) for our retirement, and trying to figure out the best strategy to afford to ultimately purchase a property there.

Even during Covid finding 2 sets of washers and dryers, and 26 sets of pre-cut blinds for an 80 year old house was not an issue.

Most of us would not.... but this individual is fine with it all.... it is a completely different set of ethics (or absecence thereof) in which they operate by, it would be a fallacy think that your verbal agreement when you met with him will be honored, have any of these above questions been honored so far?... 

@Nicole EliannaYou have a really valuable skill set in building a business. 

I can tell you what people here have done in Bay Area to set themselves up for retirement.

Managing this from California has presented its own set of challenges. 

I stayed under my $30K budget I set.

What I have found most helpful is I have a master google doc I use when buying and setting up a property. 

Set a goal to analyze a few deals a day and establish your buy criteria.

Before diving into flips and STRs and investing in general, I would sit down and figure out what your skill sets are and where you can provide or bring value.