Broadly, should I be looking at conventional financing, or something else?

@Sharon Powell I see your point and from my experience with I’ve seen both ends of the spectrum with agents.  

It's too broad of an area to answer your questions accurately without knowing where the property is. 

Especially if the delta is really broad.

This question is so broad no one can possibly give you anything worthwhile that you can't get for yourself listening to a few podcasts and doing some searches.

If you are having a difficult time gathering compatibles, I’d go off of the lower end of the rent spectrum. 

Well step one would be figuring out where you want to buy, after that get pre-qualified and start the process, there really isn't a ton of advice that can be given on such a broad topic.

Someone who knows all your information would be best suited to know your answer.California is very broad in their definition of doing business in CA.If you create additional entities but still conduct the business within CA, they may require you to file a state tax return within the state.Location of bank address does not necessarily have any impact where the state will consider that the entity does business in.

Or, if that’s too broad a question, can anyone recommend a particular means or resource for finding the right market?

California takes a very broad opinion of what constitutes doing business in the state.