Job loss can be hard to overcome.

My Google based search of other markets was very South US heavy, which we have no expertise in and harder to get a lay of the land,etc. which was a tough barrier to overcome.

We will all overcome it and adapt to whatever the future has in store for us.

You probably cannot overcome the loss in the forward couple of years unless your w-2 income increases greatly or you reduce the PITI you pay (sell the primary and buy much cheaper or rent the primary and house hack/rent much cheaper) The problem is Los Angeles housing is expensive. 

This includes your personality, strengths (and weaknesses; find out how to overcome your own weaknesses - be it hiring someone to fill the gap, overcoming it etc...), GOALS (some people may like working 80 hrs/week and the thrill of the chase, others want more time at home with family), desire to work alone or on a team,knowledge... the list goes on indefinitely.

So much for all Michael Quarles' BS "we live for a challenge" and "we are going to overcome" coaching talk.

we try to pic colors and finishes that are less trendy as not to date the properties, I have a couple of properties that I built in late 90s with pickled cabinets and coreian counter tops that were really popular at the time, which cost more but rented higher at the time but not enough to overcome higher cost, others I did were simple had white cabinets with laminate tops, but now they rent about the same, but we do get a lot of negative comments on the pickled cabinets so I do my best to stay away from trends.  

I understand the importance of examining negative thought patterns and beliefs and hope that no one is offended or put off by this I feel that I am struggling to overcome a part mental part real problem, and hope that it is clear that I don't want to come across as saying I think all real-estate people are crooks etc. 

Make a goal on how to overcome and stick to it for at least 2 months.

But we are all working in a system and two of the hardest things to overcome in that system if you want success are no hs diploma and having bad credit.