We are always kept up to speed on how the properties are performing, but it's minimal time involved. 

Created en suite bed/bath, extra bedroom/office/playroom, created family/tv room, added a couple of windows in dark rooms, installed new HVAC, ran all new pex lines/valves/shut offs, all new hardwood flooring and carpet, all new and expanded kitchen cabinets, new appliances, converted 1/2 bath into full bath, repurposed 2 unused rooms (1 into a 4th bedroom/office/playroom and one into a family room, installed new interior and exterior lighting, new electric garage door w/remote, and landscaping What was the outcome?

Managing risks is key - you need to understand and minimize potential challenges like changes in the market, turnover of tenants, property upkeep, financial obstacles, and unforeseen costs.

That said, @Lorien Rollins has hers nailed down with minimal time input/wk 

Looking for some advice on how to minimize taxes in CA.

Finding a professional that understands how to help you minimize your tax liability while also remaining compliant can make a big difference.Let’s first start with the basics of understanding commercial property tax regulations.

Ideally putting minimal down and close in my LLC's name.Does anyone have a good experience with a PM lender that they can share or will recommend? 

I am also in the process of getting these properties into LLC's to minimize liability since these are now quite hefty assets.

I live very minimally at home currently, still with my parents, so I would only be spending about $350 a month total, including the loan (assuming I can get it for the time period I calculated, which is 3 years), so I would still be able to put aside about $11,000 for school, a car, and the downpayment for my first deal. 

Because of this, they're purchasing their own supplies/materials with very minimal labor expenses.