SO the property i am potentially buying i know how to do most of the work like drywall, flooring, bathroom. 

The reason I bring this up is that changing from a single member LLC to a trust with both you and your Husband could potentially reset your 2 year holding period requirements if you wish to 1031 exchange again in the future. 

DSCR loans for refinance based on the income potential of the rentals.

Reason why i have started looking at a potential BRRR strategy and looking outside of the MLS. 

If so, there are plenty of high-paying real estate-related jobs that could help you learn the business further, network with others in the industry, and potentially even help you find deals that make sense. 

A break-even duplex in CA has the potential to have high cash flow in just a few years due to the following 1) low prop taxes increase of 2%/yr 2) low turnover due to rent caps 3) 7-10%/yr rent increases 4) better tax shieldingThe real question is whether you’ve underwritten the duplex correctly.

Better to lose nearly $10k in rent (~50% of 90 day rent value) than get a risky tenant.Especially if you self manage, make sure you understand the protections provided mid term renters in CA.Good luck Hey Dan,Do you mind sharing for what reason(s) you disqualified the potential tenant?

Sometimes a potential tenant will ask to enter the home to view it before finalizing the rental contract.

Another concern i have is the backyard has a BIG hill which is pretty dangerous to mow and could be a liability, however i could always include lawn care as part of the rent to avoid safety issues.

However, the rents are slightly lower and could potentially wipe out your monthly cashflows with one major repair.As for higher appreciation market like West/East Coast, it's more expensive, but rents are higher due to a strong labor market, there will be a certain amount of demand for those markets, but the downside is that you will need to be creative by adding more values for the property.