The LA fires are different those hills are solid brush.. for the most part and burn routinely.. 

I would start by reaching out to an agent (perhaps go to your local REIA and ask for suggestions) and ask them to send you multi-family listings.Also, make sure to brush up on your deal analysis, so you can jump on a good deal when it comes along. 

The conversation about leverage shouldn't be brushed over.Positively leveraging an asset is much different than negatively leveraging that asset.Also, you need to factor in how much leverage you have with respect to how big your reserves are.Being 52 means you're half way home, I doesn't mean you're close to retirement.... or that you need to play it safe.

I know a drop-in sink with stone counters is not ideal, but it hardly seems worth it to pay $500 or more to buy and have installed a new sink (not to mention what additional faucet cutouts might cost), when the existing sink is perfectly fine and already has a practically new brushed nickel Delta faucet.

Not, the other one...the one you wash your hands, and brush your teeth in.4 - You will see a very familiar looking face.5 - That's the person you should ask this question. 

Without knowing anything about your house, I will tell you this: If I asked my PM a legitimate question and he replied with a brush off "LoL" as if I was some kind of idiot, I would fire the PM. 

I think what I'm really trying to figure out is how to approach said developer in a way that they don't brush me off at first glance.

And as @Charles LeMaire put it, there will always be bumps, but if this is your end goal, then you solve the problem, brush off, and move forward. 

I’d also brush up on eviction procedures to prepare in case payment isn’t made.

Broad brushes paint pretty abstract pictures.