Here a local bank does this.The title co will have a network attorney draft the Note and Deed of Trust or Mortgage depending on your state.    

I work for the USAF so it will depend greatly on where I can get assigned.

There is not an easier answer it depends on what you are trying to do depends on your market that you are looking to invest in and what are you looking to do wholesale, rehab fix, buy and hold, note buy etc.

The style of room you are talking about is reminiscent of classic row house; railroad center room, windowless bathrooms (well, they mostly had windows, but it was really only for ventilation through the roof).If it is, depending on where the doors are sagging will tell you a lot about the condition of the bones of the house.

Use a realtor to gain access, or if you don't want to consistently depend on someone else, just pay for a MLS service for investors.

It all depends on if there are other hungry buyers.

Regardless, California landlords will have to be much more vigilant in their tenant vetting process, and not overly dependent on the paid screening services.

Much of it depends on how nice the neighborhood is.

I think you nailed it on the head already... differs from lender to lender for sure... my experience has been that it needs to be 12 months of rental income on your tax return so it would depend on what month you start renting it.

If I have a property under contract for $100k but the ARV is $175k, I may assign it to my investor for $120k depending on the condition of the property.