@Carter BushmanThe classic strategy of reducing SE taxes (Social Security and Medicare) by restructuring as an S-corp and starting to pay yourself W2 salary, as implied by @Daniel Hyman, is significantly undermined by the new tax reform.

Only you can decide.A good analogy is a personal trainer.

A lot of people leaving in the case of CA does not imply that the state population is decreasing (CA population is still increasing in greater numbers than all but 2 states).If I were not a landlord I would be all for many people leaving the county that I live. 

We tax pros mostly agree that the law implies the definition of trade and business under Section 162 of the code. 

As you correctly imply, I’m trying to figure out what to do next.

In fact, it is laughable that someone is implying that they do.

Some people pay personal trainers for their motivation. 

Yes you can collect rents on owner occupied, but as the name implies YOU MUST INTEND TO OCCUPY IT FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR. 

House hack implies you will be in the unit also.

I'm not talking about "find a mentor" because that word has a heavy connotation and implies finding the Most Experienced Investor and trying to convince them to spend a lot of time with you.Instead, just try to make a few friends in the group who are maybe one or two steps ahead of you in real estate.