I know it's a ton of information, but is there some sort of reference guide I can obtain that will guide me to the correct information I need to get started correctly so I don't get into legal trouble down the road?

I am a lender that works with a lot of Canadian clients investing in the U.S. specifically Florida who are often comparing their Canadian bank with lending options based in the U.S.

I gather (presume) most investors were accustomed to seeing a specific type of landscape and knew the possibilities. 

I had a calm today with Royal Legal solutions as I own three businesses in California and need to move them to a trust and start shielding myself and succession plan as well.

At this moment, I'm specifically interested in how to own a small rental property with zero or little funds and start building passive income.Thank youLing

Or what seems crazy to me.Is it legal to create a 501c3 organization to buy investment properties and rent them out at fair market value?

I am not sure there is a specific term for this type of community, rather they market is as STR friendly, etc.Best of luck!

Philadelphia introduced legislation at the beginning of 2023 that severely limits the ability to legally operate STR’s in the city.

Being specifically located in CA could help marginally, but you may also pay a much higher fee due to the higher cost of living (depending on which part of CA of course).

Consider using the reverse wholesale method, where you connect with buyers at local REIAs and meetups to understand their specific property preferences and then market deals tailored to their needs.