-buy cabinet doors bumpers. gift to neighboor and tenant-alternative option: buy a 1/2 box of donuts. talk with building engineer (@John Anderson: the shortest path between point A and B is a straight line. going to HOA (as you know already) is the 1,000 miles path)

I was just wondering if this could potentially run me several hundred dollars or several thousand dollars.

I've never owned a rental so I'm having trouble guessing but I HAVE rented multiple house (active duty military I move a lot) and I've never seen my landlord dropping hundreds every month, usually zero dollars 95% of the time.

There are a hundred things you could do to find deals, but mainly, just start looking and talking to everyone you know! 

Thus far, my experience in real estate includes helping to renovate his first buy and hold property as well as just shy of a hundred BP Podcasts and a smattering of other REI research!

The few hundred a month (potentially) will be eaten up with one missed payment and/or problem.  

In two months when they come back and tell you the cabinets  were $1,000 more than expected I would want to know what the initial estimate was and you will be shooting in the dark if it's not itemized.

If the cash flow is only eight hundred a month it isn't a deal by any standard.

They want security that you have the down and enough to cover the holdings costs and what you'all need for deposits on materials like cabinets/counters/appliances until your bank draws kick in.

You'll make dozens if not a hundred written offers before you land the first deal.Best of luck.