@Scott GrahamDepending on your situation a self-directed IRA or Solo 401(k) would be a great vehicle for investing in real estate.  

The more you can grow money inside of a tax-sheltered vehicle, the greater the impact of compounding the returns.If you can afford to achieve your personal "now" investing goals without touching that money, you will be much better off in the long run.  

Fred,A property management company should have Professional Liability, General Liability, Cyber Liability, Employment Practices Liability, Workers Compensation, and possibly other coverage depending on other factors (ie. are there business owned vehicles).  

I'd say keep the house, ditch the vehicles and dump every spare penny into the consumer debts.

I have found real estate to be the vehicle that I am most excited about and addicted too. 

Its more precise, the level of granular detail you can get.. bls  however shows what I see as 2016s wage level for the LA metro area which isn't materially different at: $51,283.

In the meantime, I want to free up some of this equity so I can invest elsewhere.I am looking for advice as to the best lending vehicle to use.

My prior loans have been with conventional financing (VA, FHA and conventional to be more precise) but I recently set up an LLC to buy properties in and wanted to see if anyone had recommendations for portfolio/commercial lenders in the area?

So as to avoid price-fixing charges, I'm looking for an average range - not a precise number, or a suggestion as to what all agents should charge. 

Hanging been through hours of research on precisely this topic, I'll tell you how I did it:But your first few properties in your own name.