I have waterproofed exterior stairs, decks and roofs/balconies over living space where it has to be perfect.

Use a FHA loan to buy a 2-4 unit and you'll be on the path of real estate investing with 1-3 other units fueling you through finances and experience.Beside that I would highly recommend adding some value to a local flipper, wholesaler, agent, or anyone else in the space from whom you could learn. 

You can get something very nice in Redondo for $4 million - you'll enjoy space as well. 3.

Once you rent out the space you live in, that CAP rate should jump up to about a 9% CAP.

So how can you make a space nicer, make people want to pay more to live there?

Those newer to the space wanting to quit their jobs might try to syndicate a deal of horrible quality just to get the acquisition fee going in.

You really can't go wrong with the few agents (soon to join this board I'm certain) that know this space. 

Who do you know and love out there in this space?

Having a back yard and home for them is important to us and we aren’t sure we want our daughter to share close living spaces with strangers.

I had a 10 unit building with empty space (from prior years when it was a mixed use building).