I plan to grow my portfolio, but we're just getting started and need a platform that works for one and can grow with us. 

Fingers crossed. 

If all goes well, I hope to purchase in Los Angeles on my 3rd or 4th deal (fingers crossed… again & again).

In my opinion if you have mold below grade it often requires a lot of water remediation, gutting of all material and then still crossing your fingers. 

I have a house under contract<is official 2 family 2b/1b but the second floor attic is huge, High ceilings two windows, one of each side. it never cross my mind I could  have problems make it part of the second floor, in your case if you want to keep the studio on a third floor, you may have to attach a fire escape stairs.

My foremost plan for Zillow is to use it as a platform to find properties where further investigation might be worth pursuing. 

Even if everything goes right (fingers crossed) you should still have cash for the little things - there are a *lot* of little things.

At some point, you've gotta draw the line which you guys have seemed to cross.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that this is going to go smoothly. 

CA has a pretty strict no solicitation rule for unlicensed folks, better get her licensed or change your script to be more like a survey without crossing the line.