When you analyze a deal it's important to think about the net dollar amount you're making on the deal ($100, $200, etc), but it's also important to know your net margin (5%, 10%, etc). 

My overall state tax liability is unaffected because whatever I pay to OH reduces dollar for dollar my CA tax.

It's hard enough not being able to pull my own permits because I'm not an owner-occupant or licensed GC, but when the contractors I'm paying top dollar for don't I'm worried it may get me into a Stop Work Order.Has anyone else had a similar experience? 

Driving for dollars can be very beneficial in getting to know the different neighborhoods.

Few hundred dollars a month gets you $3-4K In gain. 3% appreciation on a $300k property gets you $9k.  

I suggest going driving for dollars, this is how I got started.

Wife obviously would be coordinating, but again, dollar for dollar I feel like we'd get more bang for our buck in terms of lowering AGI via cost seg (whether it is higher cost property or downpayment towards next).

A fellow investor is right there with you in the trenches(not trying to sell you something).I would go to the Quest event, the Trillion Dollar Mixer.

The area has million dollar homes right down the street on some 5 acre lots so I think there quite a bit of potential for a custom build.My question is, what to build? 

If you wanted to take it a step further, find a real estate specific accountant that can train you on the best way to do your bookkeeping yourself in QBO Plus so everything is right and you don’t have a million dollar accounting cleanup down the road.