If you can swing living in one of the units of your new multi it could help to lower the rate on your loan by about a point, which I highly recommend.The process is almost the same but your inspection is going to cost more and you'll have to take over the leases of the tenants already in place.

And right now some deals (less conservatively structured with high debt, floating rate loans, etc) are under distress and had to stop distributions.

I'm still thinking if this is the right move for me given the high property taxes there, hassles of out-of-state management, additional CA taxes, as opposed to simply investing in index funds (which might have more returns).

I’m a W-2 employee in a high income tax state.

However, high ground water levels, like those after heavy rain, can submerge leach fields, causing "over saturation" and system failure, leading to potential septic backup in the home and, if Santa Cruz County Environmental Health is notified, could trigger a ATD upgrade requirement.

I originally posted on reddit saying I had 20k cash to my name but very very low expenses and a high risk tolerance.

Everything is highly individualistic and there isn’t a “right or wrong”, but what works best for you and your situation. 1) what is your ultimate goal for your ideal investment property?

I’m working with a property manager who says they never use dehumidifiers for the high maintenance but shouldn’t I be worried about mold in the basement?

High crime, high vacancy rate, bad schools, abandoned real estate everywhere.

You might find people that charge low rates, high rates, lots of fees, no fees.I'd focus on competency.