For the situation you laid out in the OP, no need for a CA RE License.

If you're gone the majority of the week, I recommend you have property management or someone you can rely on to take care of things when you're gone.

The Atty will take care of getting the title company, creating the contract etc

Taking money out of an IRA and using proceeds to buy an investment property would not meet the requirements of 1031 tax deferred exchange. 

but I remember one condition of an investor would be they needed an X amount of net worth.. can't remember the number and very competent in investing.. 

Looks like somebody got a little desperate when their flips didn't work out and opted for fraud instead.  Allegedly.Colorado Springs Ponzi Scheme

He lets me know that he put in an additional sump pump on the other end of the basement, replaced the gas valves in the boiler and water heaters, is having the mold taken care of, and has fixed a few other odds and ends. 

And tenants don't care about your Spreadsheets.Scale up a decent sized portfolio & the good stretches of some properties will carry you through the rough stretches of others.

Another issue I am finding is there is a negative correlation with the size of an applaincr and the price of the item, these efficiency appliances cost more than standard appliances.

We also take very good care of the good tenants.