@Justin MarshAs always, @Karen Margrave gives sound advice.I don't know the CA market so can't jump in on your cost per sq. ft., but using your numbers, building out at $300 s/f doesn't leave a very good return once you back out closing costs, realtor's fees, and carrying costs. 

Spoken like someone from So Cal or Coastal CA, perhaps? 

Does anyone have any recommendations for real estate schools in southern California?

For instance in the state of California "Power of Sale" can be included in the security instrument however that means a waiver of any deficiency if invoked.  

Is someone who lives in California getting a BPO and looking at each comp closely on a CF flip in Chicago?  

I know southern California is crazy expensive, but this doesn't look very good to me.

I grew up in Spokane but now I live in Redlands, CA, which is a part of what is also considered the Inland Empire down here.

Those are the words from a senior economics pro­fessor at a prestigious California university.

I'm a Private Lender myself and my company does Private Lending - in California only though.  

Frustrating waste of time and don't want to go through that again.Anyone in Orange County CA that has a solo 401k - what bank do you work with?