You'll get a kick out of them (or think I'm incredibly weird), while I'm suddenly chugging wine faster and pulling my cap down over my face...

I am assuming you are concerned about such a service in your own area but maybe this is something that is needed industry wide.

They have very good rental forms and a wide network of experts.

Incredible. 

For me acquisition costs vary widely depending on the type of financing, services needed and even the time of year and that's for properties all in the same geographic area.For example:Financing - origination fees, appraisals, points vary depending on the lender and type of loanLegal - Title insurance is usually a percentage but the attorneys fees, recording fees seem to vary quite a bit especially if any kind of title issue comes up.

Sign in the front yard4 foot wide

Kimberly H.That is a wide range for rents.  

Yet the State of California has an incredibly vibrant economy and property values continue to climb because demand is high.

If it cost you $58,000 and you are renting it for $825/month, you are looking at about an 11.9% return, which I would say is great.As for recommendations:What Every Real Estate Investor Needs to Know About Cash Flow by Frank GallinelliBP Pocast #120: How to Find, Analyze, and Finance an Incredible Real Estate Deal: http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2015/04/30/findanalyzefinance-real-estate/

The webinars, podcasts, guidebooks and forums are incredible, especially for a newbie such as I.