There were no liens on the properties however, I did have an outstanding water bill (which title insurance covered) and I had fines for un-mowed grass from the city on that same property (which title insurance covered).  

I asked him if he did not turn the utility in his name and I offered to speak with the gas company but he stated he was speaking to them right then and he later confirmed that the gas has been reconnected and that he paid them all outstanding money. 

Damn storms in California wreaked havoc.

Your salary is unlikely to be outstanding, since you are just getting started.

and 40% of your total comp...and 2 years of daycare.Running the numbers in my head I'm struggling to believe you wouldn't be better off with the higher salary, higher costs be damned.

I go single family houses HANDS FRIGGIN DOWN.Often it makes NO sense to fix up multifamily houses, when one house has 4 damn kitchens.

I think most get the point that a person doesn't get to point in life of having a Bentley by being bad at what they do, they get into that club by being damn-good at what they do.

Or be prepared to make the appropriate compromises to purchase a home that will also be an outstanding investment property.

That's an outstanding profit.

BRRRR require a lot of effort and some skill to achieve the outstanding return.