If the tenants are on longer term leases, you will need to honor that lease to its conclusion, or negotiate to transition the tenants over to your lease by mutual agreement.Remember, you will be taking someone's home away from them, so be kind.

I also want to know how to make this an easy transition from a Co-OP to a rental asset?  

There are a few other co-working space on other parts of town, most of which still have some co-working, but have made a transition to single offices and suites for small companies.  

And while the normal course is for folks to grow actively and then transition over to passive investments, there's nothing wrong with going the other direction and starting with more passive investments that are opportunistically located geographically.  

I received my first share this past fiscal year, and although I'm not 100% vested (still got three more years) -- I have been doing some research and was curious if a PST program is transitional to a self-directed IRA, or is there any way I could leverage this to invest in real estate?

I like your point about targeting local families in transition. 

I've decided to transition out of the 9-5 cubicle life and begin investing in real estate again, SFH and multi is what i'm mostly interested in.  

Typically tape all drywall joints, 3 coats of joint compound on all screw holes and joints, sand smooth to level 1-5...the industry actually defines the levels.

---there is just so much running through my head about how to make this go as smoothly as possible, this will still be one fun learning experience! 

In a few months I will transition to RE Sales FT, and before I leave my corporate job, I like to try an use my benefit, and move on as a sales person and newbie investor.