By accelerating your depreciation schedules, you reduce your taxable income which in turn increases your operating cash flow.

I was out of college (just earned my degree in Culinary Arts) and was constantly running out of money.

For our purposes it's all for an income stream. 

Find the best property you can afford that also can produce enough income so that your monthly out of pocket expense is equal to or less than what you'd pay in rent.

Quote from @Raghavendra Jakkani: The tenant should provide proof of income that doesn't require detective work.

If you paid under $230k, you’d save $30k in federal capital gains taxes and maybe another $15k or more in state income taxes.

So buy with good margin for reduced income.

If the way to increase the selling value of a MFH is to increase NOI by increasing income or decreasing expenses; why are the majority of sellers putting their properties on the market with under market rent?  

You are trying to say you will use the " investors" to fund community programs, that sounds like a charity because there is no earning on the investment.  

Next goal is $250k in income through my real estate and stepping away from the day to day management of the properties.