Regarding an attorney, it depends what you're looking to speak with them about - i.e. entity structure, partnerships, property acquisition, contract terms, etc.Anything related to a property or a deal can wait until the week of (sometimes the day before) contract review.For starters, I would recommend attending local investor meetups.

I'll make a long story as short as possible:> House built in 2008, first owners used husbands VA loan to secure (220k loan), stopped paying HOA and bank shortly thereafter (current payoff 500k+). 

That might make you more willing to tolerate them.You would probably want to terminate the lease in lieu of eviction if they are past the initial term.

Also, if they require a full appraisal on a short term loan, that is an issue as well.

Many of the most successful (read as: founders that are worth well into the 9 figures, have survived multiple market cycles, etc) syndicators I know started by working in real estate for other companies.  

It’s long, rectangular with bench seating. 6’ wide by 20’ long.

So a CRE crash will indirectly hit the economy hard, I still believe SFR is a quality, long-term scarcity hard asset worth investing in.

I am pro coast CA market but no one that I am aware of claims it is a good cash flow market in the near term.  

Prepayment penalties- usually 1-5 year terms.

Are you looking to buy for your own account to hold and collect payments for the long term?