Create a marketing plan, deploy your capital to generate some motivated seller leads, wholesale a few deals and SAVE the money you make to create a war chest to go after bigger and better things. 

With one of the last short sales I purchased, I signed the initial purchase agreement in my name only so my wife didn't have to hassle with signing all the paperwork/disclosures. 

Its all about running your numbers.It sounds like your long-term goal is to have a large portfolio of rentals.Therefore, if the ARV of a property will generate a strong profit for you and the cash flow isn't great (or you can use your profits to purchase another property with better cash flow), sell it.If a property generates great cash flow for you, keep it.

If it does only have info for those states would you happen to know another lead generating site?

Initially I am looking to connect with Investors/RE Agents, Contractors and Property managers, please reach out as I would love to chat a little about opportunity. 

You need to buy right going in generating cash flow and upside is icing on the cake and not what is needed to make the investment work.   

The article compared a scenario in which an investor would own a few properties outright to generate the same income that someone who has many cash flowing properties financed would earn.

Generating about $30k or so income rental income a year in the SFBay area.

Not that a purchase now couldn't be a good flip or rental later, but just make sure that your initial purchase is researched from a location standpoint. 

From my initial conversation with them, they stated that they create an LLC for the property you are looking to fund which will hold the title of the property.