Also, the MLO method allows you to work in the bigger deal space, it gives you the opportunity to control and profit off an amount of units you could never purchase with 20,000.

What  you're missing are the 2 most important concepts of all...and they trump the rest.Concept #1:  "The Wealthy own nothing, but control everything".It's not about being rich, or about ownership, it's about control...and control costs you "nothing". 

However, there are a few unknown that are out of the control.

You have all of the control in this.

Maybe this is something that can be written into the lease (or maybe it's not legal in a rent controlled area).This is will probably be a non-commercial multi unit (2-4 units).Thanks!

Back up those emails onto a physical device.

They may not be all self directed but many are for good reason-control,true diversity, etc. 

I do not include pest control at my rental currently, but I think if there was a bee/wasp/hornet nest I might be inclined to remove it for the tenant (or pay to have it removed).

The lawn got out of control and because the property owner information hadn't been updated in the city's database yet, San Jose sent me a letter after someone complained (forwarded to me by the Post Office).The letter said I had so many days to remedy the situation and the city would send out an inspector to check.

Realizing I had very little control when it came to working for someone else.