How do you define a "great deal?"

The group of 4 probably doesn't want to live that way as well but with 1.8x the monthly rent where they don't qualify together definingly won't qualify on their own so they really have no choice. 

If your building will have a rental component to it.  

It sounds like he's pushing you into something without clearly defining why you need it, which is not the sign of a good counselor.You have to learn the benefits of an LLC and determine whether you need one.

But the majority of our lenders only require that a vacation/2nd home must have some personal use, they do not define the amount of days. 

I don't know about the permitting process in CA but I would assume (depending on the type of permits), the inspector would need access to the pipes or electrical components. 

People forget that prices have two components, supply and demand.

Generally speaking there are 2 main types of loans for investors: “Conventional” and “Portfolio”Conventional - I'll define these as loans that come from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (if you recognize those names).

Depending on how the boundaries of the unit and the Limited common elements, etc. are defined in the Condo docs you may own the sheet rocking, fixtures, interior wiring & plumbing, cabinetry, etc. within the unit. 

I consider personal happiness and peace of mind an important component to my business plan.