This means I’m locked in to a single location, which I’m not very fond of.

Just passed my final agent license exams in Connecticut and am working on finding the right broker/office to sign on with in Northern Hartford County (Simsbury, Suffield, Granby, West Hartford, Windsor Locks, etc).

You need to be prepared for the full cost and responsibility required to own and operate an investment property.

Forming an LLC would cost me an extra $800 per year in Cali alone and tax preparation time/cost that I do not believe is worthwhile.  

A more modern option might be if you pay for a modern lock that allows him to issue a code for a limited time if you need access.

If you can get a job first that will allow you to lock down that first house hack to cut out your housing expenses that will likely be a good way to go.

You are locking in your debt service costs up front.

If you go above and beyond the comps on the renovation, be prepared to not get paid for it at closing. 

So you're going to sell all of your possessions and lock up the capital in an opportunity fund for the next 10 years?

of your questions; I feel more prepared now.