@Jt Marting for your first property I would recommend finding one that just needs cosmetic help (bathroom, kitchen renovations) but newer mechanicals.

They should provide you with a certificate of insurance (made out to you) showing that they have Liability, Workers Compensation, and Business Auto coverage. 

All of my properties there have mechanical gas heaters or a fireplace so all my tenants fortunately had some level of heat 

., foundation, systems, electricals/mechanicals, crawl space, etc) and how they work, what shapes and sizes they come in, and anything else that's useful.

I was born and raised in San Diego and now work here as a mechanical engineer in the defense industry.

The Redo is now costing me $120,000I complained to CSLB, so he forged my signature to create a new contract for $350,000 and filed a mechanics lien for $56,000 (stating that he completed 20% of work. and he is owed a balance of $56,000)He used HANDLE App to file mechanics lien.

BUT if you do have more wiggle room, a HELOC is a great mechanism for that.

Take a look at Xpeng, Li Auto, or Nio.

I was going to add a drain in the pool room but didn’t think about adding one in a mechanical room.  

Tile floor is in good shape, wood cabinets are also not too banged up and mechanically work well.