The scope of work is well defined and the qualified people are easier to identify.

I have a fair amount saved for downpayment money to invest in some new properties but I am struggling to figure out where I should go and what specifically to look for.I have identified a few things that I am looking to accomplish with these properties though:1.

Your best bet is to probably identify a deal and bring it into a local lender and see what options you'd have for that specific deal.  

As a result of a rush job from the seller, I'm now encountering significant issues (electrical, insulation and roofing) that were not identified in any of the home inspections completed by the firm. 

The study identifies with forensic engineering detail the immediate Bonus Depreciation 5, 7 and 15-year personal property class lives qualifying portions of a building that are normally buried in 27.5 year residential or 39 year commercial categories.

I chose the hardest deal to pursue for my first deal, as it was a fractured condo but i identified that it was a great deal and dove head first.

Before I finished reading your post, I was getting prepared to respond with exactly what you have identified in your final paragraph.I'd sell this house for sure and redeploy the capital into something else that can generate 7-8%+ cash on cash returns.Some might argue that SoCal is more of an appreciation play and that your appreciation will outpace your cashflow in any other market.

How good are you at identifying problems and finding a solution?

I could use help identifying my options for what to do with utilities.

I identified a hot market (Columbus OH) and analyzed many SFH/duplexes on and off market and found that the CoCs I'm getting are negative (A/B) to at best 2-3% (B-/C).