If you plan on staying long term lower down payment is not as meaningful as it is if you only plan on staying for a few years. 

For a property like this, even in California, I would anticipate at least a +7% CR.Additionally, betting on appreciation is speculative and not the best approach to long-term investing.

The lending terms (specifically the down payment requirement) are generally much more favorable for an owner occupant and you can always convert it to a rental property down the road.Good luck!

I want to purchase my primary home there with creative financing options, because like all of us I want to set more favorable terms than the traditional lenders can set.

You are buying their terms and their contract along with the property.

Evicting a tenant from a rent-controlled unit typically requires a valid legal reason, such as non-payment of rent, violation of lease terms, or the property owner wanting to occupy the unit themselves (owner-occupancy).

I am liking what I am reading as far as the terms and options are concerned with Quickline Capital.

What is the real benefit of claiming your short-term rental income in Schedule E?

We as a firm have investors working with us who have rental properties all over the US big and small.Finding a real estate-focused tax professional and one who can help with advisory and grow with you would be my suggestion to focus your efforts on finding.

. - for as narrow or as wide of a net you may want to throw out for your own “real estate investing.”But if you should still have an inclination to trust some guru with a paid mentorship, I’d suggest to go above and beyond their standard contract, which will likely stipulate what you owe them in far better terms for themselves than what they owe you in return for your money: I’d ask them to stipulate - in writing - what “mentorship” your money (at each level of a “workshop”/“education” they expect you to pay for) will actually get you, and for how long.