For flooring I use Empire as they will come to your property and give discounts on the spot.

I am seeking good ROI analysis tools (spreadsheets, calculators) for evaluating multi-family live-in unit (3 or 4 units) that I am planning on purchasing in Orange County or the Inland Empire in Southern California, over the next few months. 

I can’t “prove” I was able to settle cheaper, or that the plaintiff would have not settled for the amount they did; just as you can’t “prove” someone didn’t sue because your assets are “protected”, but the empirical evidence is clear.  

Here are my favorite books:Multifamily Millions by Dave LindahlThe ABCs of Real Estate Investing by Ken McElroyThe Complete Guide to Buying and Selling Apartment Buildings by Steve BergesCommercial Real Estate Investing by Dolf De RoosTrump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received by Donald TrumpTax Free Wealth by Tom WheelwrightCommercial Real Estate 101: How Small Investors Can Get Started and Make It Big by David LindahlRaising Private Capital: Building Your Real Estate Empire Using Other People’s Money by Matt FairclothThe Definitive Guide to Apartment Marketing by Josh GrilloInvesting in Apartment Building by Matthew MartinezCrushing It in Apartments and Commercial Real Estate by Brian H MurrayThe 7 Secrets to Successful Apartment Leasing by Eric Cumley2 Years to a Million in Real Estate by Matthew MartinezBurn Zones: Playing Life’s Bad Hands by Jorge NewberyCommercial Mortgages 101: Everything You Need to Know to Create a Winning Loan Request by Michael ReinhardIt’s a Whole New Business!

Would you recommend that focus on certain areas on SD, or maybe lookin more at the Inland Empire, like Riverside or Ontario?

The train for us is moving on, so my goal is not to build an empire, but a great nest egg. 

Since you are looking for cash flow, can you get the kind of cash flow in Riverside or Inland Empire that you can get in Columbus, Indianapolis or Baltimore?

That's going to be a nice empire you'll be building here, Wayne.

House hacking is an amazing way to build an empire, you just need to know what you can and cannot do upfront so that you don't get stuck later.

The Constitution says I can build my empire anywhere I want, as long as I work for myself :-)