If you can't keep control your finances, you are highly unlikely to succeed in real estate investing.

Fortunately, since you also live in the house, that makes you exempt from both Sacramento’s local rent control (Tenant Protection Program) and California’s statewide rent control (AB1482).Now, with regard to how to raise the rent, after the lease expires and it transitions to a month-to-month (MTM) agreement, you are free to raise the rent by any amount you choose. 

I have a zest for knowledge and I am also very detailed and action oriented and frankly I wanted more control of my future real estate deals.

Knowledge of fair housing laws, ESA's, section 8, rent control, eviction procedures etc, 

If you take out a mortgage personally and transfer the property to your LLC that you control, you should be exempt.

I just wanted to create a retirement pension I could understand and control.

@Heather De La Cruz.

That can cause our economy to spin out of control.

I think real estate is all about self control, I don’t need a fancy truck I don’t need to go on vacation.

@Mary JayYes you have full control over your property, how long you want it on the market and you can cancel anytime for free.