Many of the big operators have track records with other capital raisers and you can easily find out if what their experiences were like.There are of course many successful operators who are never found because they have no marketing.

I do BRRRR (locally, agree that trying to do it remotely as a small or newbie investor could easily become a fiasco) and there are always problems that pop up in the first few months of the new tenant moving in, similar to buying a new house.  

Some live for 10+ years in an SRO even though they could easily afford a 1-bedroom apartment, because it frees up a lot of monthly cash for other life choices (expensive sports, etc).

Like others have said, solid vacation markets people can easily get to in a pinch. 

Even though I believe this will be pass-through income, it seems like it’s a better choice for accounting and keeping income/expenses more easily separated.6.

Newly relocated to the Bay Area, Florida still seemed like a great market that was easily accessible and have enough upside to counter any speedbumps along the way. 

It's difficult to estimate capex costs generically in LA, but it's easily another $100/month.Thirdly, maintenance.

If they are professional, they can explain this quickly and easily.

I was able to find out his contact information pretty easily with a simple google search. 

It would be worth exploring all options, and if you are willing to live in a duplex or one of those options, the rate for owner occupied financing isn't 8%, it is closer to 7%.Also, since the market is softer, you could easily ask for a seller credit to buy down the rate closer to the low 6s, and meet somewhere in the middle with a similar mortgage payment as a new build and get something that would be a really good house hack for a family with privacy, garage, etc and get the benefit of renting the other side or ADU.