Continue to educate yourself, stay committed, network2.

6) What is the standard period between the lease expiration and the Option to Purchase commitment, if they decide to buy?

Currently I am working with my girlfriend (business major at Chico State, also committed to real estate, living together now, plan to house hack asap) and some friends from a business fraternity to start Chico State's first real estate club.

After all inspections done, you'll get removal of contingencies and then, if Buyer changed their mind - your Seller gets EM.Even when people are still living in the property, they allow for the Buyer to get inside - for example, their mom travelled from another state to see the house her kids are buying.During the time of contingency/pending sale it's not totally Sellers house anymore - it's more like Buyers house.Of course, you advice not to abuse the right to check it out but it's understandable that people want to see it again - especially if it's first time homebuyers or much more expensive house than their current.They could get cold feet without seeing the house if you're afraid of that, but if they see something in the basement like water after rain - it's better to agree on remediation during waiting for the mortgage commitment rather than at final walk through.That's might be a deal breaker at the last day,  while during the waiting time you could work it out. 

However, what I do think is a scam is that young people are being left thousands of dollars in debt, after having spent 4 years in college, for an education that could have been imparted in half that time, for jobs that really didn't require such a commitment in time and finances, and, for a degree that all too often that had no relation to their career path after graduation. 

This is all theoretical as the lender that mentioned this didn't commit to it on paper and I have yet to attempt it. 

Once you have decided which path to take, I recommend "Seek to serve" or "Pay to play", if you are committed to accelerating your growth.

I can have my single family paid off in 8 years if I start rolling that money back into it, and if I do the same to my 4plex I can have it completely paid in 8 years after that if I commit those funds I budget every month to live on my employment income - what I don't know is if I should allocate my passive income back into my existing investments to maximize long term cash flow, or focus on buying new properties.

So this one may sound silly but could keep you from committing to an agent that won't feel comfortable doing what you need done. 

6) What is the standard period between the lease expiration and the Option to Purchase commitment, if they decide to buy?