By signing below, applicant(s) give permission to (1) current and former employers to release any information about applicants’ employment history and income history to the above named person;(2) current and former landlords to release any information about applicants’ rental history to the above named person; (3) current and former mortgage lenders on property that applicants’ own or have owned to release any information about mortgage payment history to the above named person; (4) bank, savings and loan, or credit union to provide a verification of funds that applicants’ have on deposit to the above named person, and (5) to the above named person to obtain a copy of applicants’ consumer report (credit report) from any consumer reporting agency and to obtain criminal background information about applicants.

it sounds like you are in a healthy position.  

I'm looking to generate wealth that will allow me to retire as early as I can; however, I'm looking for something that is as passive as possible as my current business is very time consuming. 

Some posts just ramble and then don't even have a specific question.There is definitely a healthy medium.

But I see little to suggest it will lead to anything meaningful for consumers.

The Annual Allowable Rent Increase effective August 1, 2024 - July 31, 2025 is based on the lesser of 4% or the change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metropolitan area.

All licensing does is provide a consumer who has been ripped off or taken advantage to have some means of regress against a crook.

According to the update, ODC thinks that the distribution has the potential to rise as they continue to drive occupancy, but they want to be conservative and keep the fund healthy.  

I second @Bonnie Low with the rec for Baseline, if you have 1-2 properties it's easy enough to keep your books and accounts straight but any more than that gets tricky and time consuming!

If you cannot accept that prospect than you are a consumer, not an investor.If you are new to the business and reward is your only expectation, then I will be the first to ask you not to meet with New Western.