If you're not licensed in an area and your advice is outside your expertise, you can put your license at risk. 

I am having a hard time in my area with lenders understanding what I am trying to do.

Short-term rentals are often regulated by the city and limited to certain areas.

Beautiful area.

Where would we go about finding someone in our area that would be interested in and Airbnb arbitrage arrangement? 

I’m new to the area and in the process of purchasing my first rental property.

Check the in person events and meetups in your local area, our online community is full of knowledge and folks willing to share and still nothing replaces the opportunity to interact IRL, you never know who you will meet and where that can take you on your REI journey. 

Not only am I in Los Angeles but the area I am limited to is one of the more expensive in the city. 

I know LLCs are a protection tool with no tax incentives but with those come higher insurance/fees versus staying in your name. 

Mortgage is around $3500/$3600 (with modification), and has little to no equity...rents in the area are around $3100.