You should already be separating business and personal completely, otherwise the LLC is useless, and they can pierce the corporate veil.

This means that you will probably need to pay registration and filing fees in at least 2 states if you don’t buy CA property as a CA resident.Any lawsuits should be limited to the assets of the LLC and not your personal assets (assuming you run the LLC appropriately and the corporate veil is not pierced, some debate as to SMLLC).

I joined this group with the hopes of starting a Real Estate Investment business soon so that I can step away from the corporate life I have lived for more than 30 years.It's time for me to try something new...oh, where to begin :) 

REITs are corporations that invest directly in commercial real estate, and when you invest in a REIT, it is like buying stocks, where shares can be purchased and sold.

I have been reading that corporate investors are buying many homes there and I now I am having second thought about the area.

I don't have rent payments currently as I am living at home with my parents/corporate housing while at work.I would prefer to use the property solely for investment purposes and Not occupy it.

This means that you will probably need to pay registration and filing fees in at least 2 states if you don’t buy CA property as a CA resident.Any lawsuits should be limited to the assets of the LLC and not your personal assets (assuming you run the LLC appropriately and the corporate veil is not pierced, some debate as to SMLLC).

Land of no more mom/pop landlords, only corporations. 

I myself have personally ran a brokerage before, one with a big corporate name, my insight isn't 2nd hand or guess work, it's 1st hand hands-on insight.

It does not.Here is the complete, relevant statute (as amended):"Real estate broker" means any individual or business entity, including a partnership, association, corporation, or limited liability company, who, for compensation or valuable consideration, (i) sells or offers for sale, buys or offers to buy, or negotiates the purchase or sale or exchange of real estate, including units or interest in condominiums, cooperative interest as defined in § 55.1-2100, or time-shares in a time-share program even though they may be deemed to be securities or (ii) leases or offers to lease, or rents or offers for rent, any real estate or the improvements thereon for others, or (iii) sells or offers to sell, buys or offers to buy, or negotiates or otherwise deals in real estate contracts, including assignable contracts, on two or more occasions in any 12-month period.The newest language (in italics) refers to individuals or entities who DEAL IN REAL ESTATE CONTRACTS.