Small chunks, one room at a time and I'm making steady progress.  

You are in a competitive market, so good luck ... but the good news is that supply and demand cuts both ways: that which is hard to buy is easy to sell or rent and tends to appreciate well over the long term.

SFH buy/hold/rent for the equity side of the equation, (the hedge), and HML for the debt side, (the steady income stream).

I do a lot of work for other local investors and have seen a steady increase in the use of this type of flooring.

Are you asking if it's hard to find steady, serious, contractors?

I would have given these a shot but could not find local supply at a reasonable price.

I also accept people who have had foreclosures if they have good steady jobs and.

Real estate crashed about 25-30% in market value in 2008 and some say that was the tip of the iceberg but it's hearsay and as @Simon Ruiz mentioned there's still cranes everywhere so demand is still greater than supply in LA.

You can still buy  the full one-piece units at plumbing supply houses.My guess is there is no wall board behind your existing unit, as they are installed directly against the framing.

Problem is - not only does the hot and cold water supply pipes freeze, but so does the entire hot water heating system.