The Torrance ADU development standard states "ADUs are not allowed in the Hillside Overlay or Local Coastal Overlay District unless the ADU is created from converting existing permitted square footage," which I assume are the areas you're talking about.

The biggest thing is get educated ,read books listen to podcasts and browse the forums here everyday.

1.Ask for a copy of their standard seller side and buyer side closing documents2.Ask if they close any non-traditional type transactions you intend to use.3.Ask for a copy of their standard fees, and if title policy rates are not set by a governing body4.Ask about insurance premium rates.5.I would ask them if they are investor friendly.6.If they double close and if what do they, ask what do they charge for the 2nd close?

An appraiser is obviously going to inspect the house and our concern is that we then would not be able to finance as a duplex, not to mention the added property taxes.Listening to Brandon Turner's The Book on Investing in Real Estate with No and Low Money Down, we thought maybe this property would be a perfect candidate for seller financing?

Is this dictated by law or just the industry standard?? 

Even after a year of listening the BP podcast and tons of books there are still so many nuances of real estate investing that I am still learning.Its great that you are already thinking about your first investment property but patience is of a key essence here!

I've seen on BP and in a couple of books that some experts present themselves to tenants as the property manager, not the landlord.

She's noted that they've been no trouble, but I want to verify that they check out according to my standards. 

I was clear to him that I had a lot of other things I'll have to pay to fix soon so anything less than him paying to repair it would make the investment no longer meet my minimum standards for ROI.

Just starting out, I would begin with acquiring as much information as I could through reading books, listening to podcasts and being active in the forums.