Doing a 1031 exchange allows you to indefinitely defer paying the taxes.  

It allowed me to learn what owning property was like, while getting some positive cashflow. 

It may be worth asking why they say you need 15% if the guidelines allow as low as 5%?

Tonight, it seems to me that obtaining a real estate license in California is the best investment at the moment.Unfortunately, California has no reciprocity rule, meaning my license would be useless if I moved elsewhere–which is quite disappointing.Still, I think it would allow me to start working in real estate as an agent within a few months.What do you think?

But moving in allowed us to build the vision for the hotel while we were onsite, interact with our first guests to make sure everything was good, and the more.

He was living there with his mom and you allowed it.

For this particular property, the zoning does have mobile homes as an Permitted Allowable Use.

I plan on putting some elbow grease myself but mostly contracting the work out to allow the professionals to do what they do best. 

Property management takes typically 8-10% of the rent off the top, but it allows you to purchase properties in other states that are more affordable.

I will be able to pick up something that throws more money my way and will allow me to get into a second house quickly.