Basement living area as a bedroom and the daughter moving back in after college until this situation arose.

Factoring your tax liabilities and transaction costs will help you better understand if the strategy makes sense for this situation.

More stress at the time = more cash in my pocket!!

In an ideal situation I would add an additional partner that would focus almost exclusively on locating another owned rehab opportunity and to relieve lease up or financing issues from yourselves. 

I'm now in a situation where I'd like to start evaluating properties with a local agent who's familiar with the BRRRR strategy, house hacking, and can help me out with my  goals in purchasing a new duplex in the Long Beach area (most likely south of the 405).

You situation is fairly common. 

I find myself in quite a similar situation.  

Once you've proven yourself, then you can consider a higher-risk situation with 100% leverage.

The court is of little help in such situations since if tenant does not provide forwarding address, the court will not process a complaint. as a Landlord i am desperately searching for a way or a method outside of traditional credit bureaus to verify and screen such tenants.

Banks have a vested interest in getting lowball appraisals in BRRRR situations, and if appraisers want to keep working for their main clients, those banks, they quickly learn to be well-versed in the art of giving the banks what they want, money-making lowball appraisals that screw you, the investor, and take money out of your pocket.An appraiser is going to come in with a point-and-shoot digital camera, or, in the worst case, use her/his phone.