A good and trusted contractor is worth their weight in gold.

It will get you to the end result faster.

To get the money faster for said down payment 4500-6000$ I’ve started investing in the stock market for about 2months now and so far have made about 30$ In return.

I believe LA rents will increase faster than out of state so your gap might increase.

I'm in the process of getting a large line of credit so I can move faster and then I will be driving for dollars and targeted mailers.

I bet it would have been cheaper & faster to just move & build a new home. 

A great contractor is worth his weight in gold, and frankly, a lot more valuable than a PIA tenant.Talk with your lawyer (*I'm not one*) but in most cases the tenant can't just decide to "put his rent in escrow" on a whim.

On the other hand, if you are going to be doing this again you will gain understanding so much faster and more efficiently if you'll go through the process outlined in The Book on Flipping Houses, which starts with a SOW.  

Plus, the faster it appreciates, the faster you can refinance and adjust your debt service to secure better terms and cash flow.

They assume the property will rent faster, tenants will appreciate getting a good deal and take care of the property, and they'll probably stay longer.