The home should be functional, safe and relatively attractive.

There is a convergence of people being willing to live in smaller/alternative living situations (new generation) and the technology to make it happen (smart homes are here but alternative building techniques have been slow to catch on due to outdates building codes- but the technology is there) I think we are going to see some massive shifts in the next 20 years.

I just made sure it would be an attractive enough offer to this guy based on what I learned about him and his situation.

I know the California Franchise Tax Board imposes an $800 alternative minimum tax annually on any LLC doing business in (or operated from) California, no matter where the real estate is held. 

The low cash down offered by the lender in conjunction with the stable neighborhood made it an attractive investment.

An alternative comment is that negative Cashflow is a delayed down payment.

If you focus on getting good at that, the money will come, "A good deal attracts money".

Those quick closes are very attractive to sellers and will definitely put you in front of other offers.

I’m also open to alternative suggestions if any pro investors are able to offer input.

But today, you have a considerable amount of equity built in paydown and appreciation to access, and you can use that equity to improve the current house and purchase more.Many people find suitable alternatives to manage a handful of properties from a distance, so even if you move eight hours away, you can do most of the managing yourself by building relationships with contractors and real estate agents, paying a small fee for them to help as need requires.Only sell if you know the choice is mathematically correct, rationally made, and leads to more property acquisition now.