In comparison, when buying real estate you have a guaranteed asset because, unlike the stock market, during inflation, real estate prices tend to increase too so it is clear why some people prefer owning real estate over any other type of investment.While investing in a single, high-risk stock may pay off big rewards, diversifying your portfolio is key to protecting your wealth.

The more we can learn about them, the better chance we'll have of protecting our investment.

This will provide protection both against the city as well as provide ability for you to pursue eviction if needed. if you rent an illegal unit and the tenant doesn't pay you have no grounds for eviction.

Report them on every online consumer protection organizations and spread the word before they scam more people 

In single family real estate you do this by choosing an investment that will perform and then using insurance to protect it.  

Do we really want the government to rely on getting more people to smoke more marijuana in order to do their job protecting us and maintaining our infrastructure and schools?

A good property manager can protect your property, income, time, and sanity.Start by going to www.narpm.org to search their directory of managers.

A syndicate is already an LLC or a LP so I don’t see any added liability protection by having a second entity layer.

It might not need a full replacement if it's still doing its job—keeping the rain out and protecting the structure.

Seems you are new to this- you can get just as good protection by working with an agent or broker and will see more deals through developing that relationship.