In the end he made less than he wanted , but more than if the deal didnt go thru . ( He didnt like me much , but I am not in the business to make friends , I am in the business to make money ) .

As Bryan stated, yes RUBS is generally legal in California, but there can be limitations depending on the market and the leases you have in place. 

Just like the last two years.Right now we are still in the sellers busy summer market.You can of course sell from September to February, but there is less buyer demand.

I understand that Cap Ex is location and age of home dependent, but is it possible for this to be ballpark accurate for these times?

I think that add ons are very market dependent.

That's no way to run a business and this business is too small to get away with it. 

Hi @Ashley Hadford, Is it safe to say - "it depends?'

Insurance for the business and licensure.

Hi Robin,I do a fair bit of business as a lender in South Carolina; a lot of short-term rental investors tend to focus on the Charleston & Myrtle Beach areas, but if you are looking for properties that are still reasonably priced and don't mind some renovations, Columbia can be a great choice 

Just because have $$$ does not mean you're ready to start a REI business and attack deals.