If you don't, and don't have any other contingency, the bank will your your earnest money.Yes, if you want an inspection, you pay an inspector to do it.

I'm a newbie, and I feel the BRRRR is an advanced strategy.

Look like a great place for an STR!

Basically, the consensus is that you just need to fill out an additional CA tax form every year once you go out of state, and that can be done by your accountant. 

I have kinda been against installing carpet but it might be an easier and cheaper alternative.I would love any and all thoughts.

. - is RE price at an all time high?  

It is currently an Excel spreadsheet (which works best for it) but can turn into Google Sheets or Apple's Numbers also (although the formatting may be thrown off with those options for the graphs).

The ideal buyer would be an out of state, cash buyer/ investor.   

I'll most likely be working with an agent who specializes in mixed use properties and works for a national firm.

Very possible biggest factors are can you find the deals that will be profitable (I work with auctions and that varies hugely) and how fast can you execute them and move to the next one, remember that you have time on the market and closing time once under contract (usually an extra month) before you get the capital back out.