Particularly for townhomes or condos, you should also investigate the HOA’s financial status.

They set up the process as a preliminary ‘interview’ and then if you get the first screener’s ‘recommendation,’ you move on to a 2+-hour ‘interview’ with the ‘director’ to ‘dive deeper and see if you’re a good fit’ because ‘Phil is very selective’—so selective, in fact, that ‘less than 1% of applicants are accepted to join.’

To help you gain confidence and make wise judgments, consider the following actions and advice:Keep investigating possible markets outside of your state.

I past all my 7-8 preliminary inspections (seemed like a lot and was told each time "Keep up the good work" and I will send the landlord the "all good" report.

I am in the preliminary stages on one in Yonkers as we speak.

I am investigating some others as well. 

House hacking is a possible alternative, but given California's high real estate values, investigating other areas may be a good decision.Houston, TX is frequently seen as a favourable alternative for out-of-state real estate investing for various reasons: Diverse Economy, Population Growth, Affordability, Landlord-Friendly Laws, Job Opportunities etcRemember that success in out-of-state investing often involves ongoing communication, local support, and adapting to the unique aspects of the chosen market.Good luck!

Tom Wheelwright’s WealthAbility is a full-on SCAM with shoddy ‘business practices’ that needs to be investigated for consumer fraud!

This is very preliminary, but it's a basic concept I need to understand anyway. 

If you promise them a "rescue" and you don't get it done before the foreclosure sale they can sue you and the local authorities can investigate you.7.