I know they broke lease and ended up in court, but I'm not sure what ever came of it.

Ideally, the association manages the premises and finances (but the reality may be not so much...)The declaration by laws and such are key, and they prevent all sorts of things (like you working on items outside your unit or even renting your unit).

That bad enough... but its totally something else for that same criminal to go to a court and sue you to change your door locks, because he feels its too much work breaking in.... you enable enough people to knowingly and deliberately commit crimes and at some point you are liable to face criminal charges as an accomplice or accessory.

@Bryan PhamYour buddy is going to have to file a "Notice of Petition to Administer Estate" in the county were the decedent has the property.If your buddy is petitioning the court to be PR, he'll have to give notice to the remaining siblings (his relatives) as well.If the three properties are in three separate counties then three separate petitions need to be filed. 

I can't/don't run around throwing out code sections and Tax Court case citations. 

Just find the WORST property managers in town, and find out what properties they are managing ... that right there could be an endless source of deals IMO ... eviction courts may also help locate them ... did that absentee owner you bought from or the property management company they were using have other properties under management I wonder?

If you conduct any business in Ca related to the LLCs, such as phone calls, bank accounts, payments, letters, CPA useage etc. then if you want to use the Ca court system you'll be on the hook for the 800/yr foreign corporation registration fee + legal representative + Ca filing forms & fees etc.

If you want to withhold rent generally speaking you have to go to court and show that the place is inhabitable place your rent into escrow and go down that route.

Even if they win they don't want the court and legal costs of defending the title. 

This could work for you or against you in court.