However, after doing my research and talking with a few people, I've been feeling SUPER overwhelmed.

Haha this is why this situation is so confusing - many people with differing interpretations!

As you know, this part of CA is nothing like what most people associate CA with.

I'm torn because people say "don't sell... houses are going to keep going up".

It also help comfort people.

But I don't want to waste other people's time and would definitely feel a lot more confident overall if I knew that the money was there. 

Yes development can have huge upside but I have also seen people lose $20M in a development deal gone bad. 

Looking at this kitchen (Rehab/Flip deal), I know how to price out work and deal with subs but how are people coming up with how to redesign the layout?

I learned that April and May are seasonally slow for rentals, since most people seem to move in the summer, and also that the market here in Wesley Chapel, FL is a bit saturated with excess inventory from all the new construction activities in the area.Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

You seem pumped up to do this, but do it first at a local meetup (in terms of connecting with people) or else you are just going to get a bunch of people trying to sell you services or on how good they are.