With MTR there are places where you can market to traveling nurses and medical professionals who are looking for something furnished for 1-6 months.

LA is a tough market.

I'm in the process of choosing a market to focus on and wanted input on strong BRRRR markets right now.

Often they will tell you what they're having a challenge with (like finding off market deals, a reliable property manager, etc). 

I am currently studying for my real estate license and analyzing the local market.

You can't arbitrarily decide that you don't want to allocate any of the proceeds to the portion of the property that will create Ordinary income recapture (thus can't be included in the installment sale treatment) - it should technically be allocated amongst all the assets in accordance with their fair market value at the time of the sale. 

You could check the recorder of deeds, or just hop on a call/video chat with them and discuss their process with them.You may also ask for references or past clients, or properties they've funded, or HUDs. 

For those that are in the MTR space, what types of clients are you targeting?   are your getting traveling nurses, business professionals, displaced families, insurance claims etc?

Recently I saw the duplex that is DIRECTLY across the street from my property come on the market, and I would love love love to jump on the opportunity to buy this property as well. 

I'd build on an infill lot closer to downtown. you can get land within the downtown markets and construct multifamily properties through the same process and higher units and better floorplans. we just passed our first triplex in central ohio and are breaking ground in 3 weeks.