Well, let me see if I follow here, and I have some questions.Your goal is to maximize cash flowYou have the OC condo that you have about $350k equity inAm I right that the condo is not the home you've had since the 70s that you are emotionally attached to?

I immediately realized that my CPA is not a tax strategist and he will never help me achieve my goals.

My goal is to have a nice place to life for a while that we will fix up and maybe sell for a profit 5 in a few years due to equity created in rehab.

My long term goal is to reach financial independence by age 30 through rental properties. 

Final goal - is to try to get what you want. 

In terms of goals, he wants passive income to support his lifestyle so he can ultimately quit his day job.

See how it fits in to your life, your goals, your circumstances, your market, the current economics, etc.

Everyone 8 years ago gets the same data.....high growth, shortage of inventory, let's build....everyone jumps in at the same time and runs their numbers....stretches them a bit to meet cap rate goals and lender requirements and the BOOM is on. 

The goal is to get something at $.60-$.70 on the dollar.So what are some tips and tricks in finding something? 

You have a bunch of choices for a ski town, if your goal is to have a place in high demand during ski season.