Sounds like you are going with a Fannie/Freddie type loan based on the cap of 2%.  

Andy Sirkin, based in San Francisco but supposedly has done some in Las Angeles. 

Natural appreciation usually takes holding the property for at least a few years (just depending on what the RE market does going forward).  

Are they commission based, flat fee?

Airbnb is very algorithm based and despite the popular opinion its not hard to stay in good standings on the algorithm. 

ABL, which is the basis for HML/fix and flip lending, will have different criteria and different focuses than multi-year loans based on cashflow and borrower credit score (long term mortgages).

To start your journey, I recommend focusing on building your network by joining meetups and engaging in online forums, while narrowing down your first investment based on your budget, market, and goals.

I am local to Los Angeles - based in Orange County.A bit about me: I’m a civil engineer by profession with experience in local government.

They barely lasted in California (they are based on London).The challenge is (1) you are assuming all listings have open houses and (2) there are a lot of moving parts that can happen behind the scenes.

I actually keep a list our bookkeeping firm recommends based on firms/individuals we and our Clients have had good experiences with as well as I've personally had good experiences with.