No one knows what will be the final legislation but any plan of a non-owner occupied STR would be risky.Even if you use the house hacking method I suggested you look into, because you do not know if you would be staying in San Diego long term, the STR route is very risky and therefore I would not recommend it but you can look into the proposed legislation and decide if it is a risk you want to take on. 

You can earn and learn w/intention in more passive method while you look for more reasonable opportunities or entry points for your active capital.

I don't like this method, because I like leverage.

Those are the major self-promotion methods that are left.You could also try FB ads and the like now that I think about it.

What are some best ways to go about doing this or should i use a different method to fund my down payments? 

We realize this will be a slow and methodical process, but we believe this is the way forward. 

The cleaner method, IMO, is a SPE (Special Purpose Entity) LLC where his LLC "owns" 50% and you "own" 50%.

I personally feel you should go first class on the first mailing and then the most cost effective method should be utilized on the subsequent mailings.

Both are technically correct, but because the adjective form can be used to describe any property that is tenant-ready, it can be used in discussions of REI wherein the investor finds the prop themselves and hires a PM, like you're suggesting, which is more of DIY method (ok, not completely DIY, but more so than in the definition below).

., located at ..........................Each month rent will be paid in the amount of $200, per week, starting October 5th, 2017 and ending at the termination of this lease agreement, or otherwise previously agreed upon, as stated below, including the months which have 5 pay periods.The extra pay periods will accumulate and may be applied toward the last months’ rent.It may not be misconstrued that...........................(................) is responsible for the payment of rent, and this lease agreement is between the parties stated in the third paragraph of this Lease Agreement.If an error, or stoppage, occurs in the automatic deposit, either by the Resident or her employer, it shall be paid immediately by the Resident ................and all other late payments, fees and conditions of this agreement will apply.Should the Resident wish to change the method of payment, the Owner must first be notified in writing in such a time frame that rent will be paid in full and on time according as follows:  Rent and/or other charges are to be paid at such place or method designated by the owner as follows check or money order by mail, or cash in person.