The property manager should be involved before you buy any property to give input on due diligence, how to increase income and reduce expenses, and to make repairs or improvements to maximize occupancy.Excellent property management is critical to your success before, during, and when planning to sell or refinance.To your success!

My tax advisor referred me to them, and I also utilized cost segregation on the properties, which significantly reduced my tax bills.

It’s hit and miss, really need to deeply understand what they offer, if they will work for you or against you, whether they sign the lease or you (I prefer me, to reduce that lock jn). 

Private funding from a relative may provide flexible terms and reduced financial risk, but formal agreements are necessary, and interest paid is deductible for you but taxable for them.Traditional investment property loans offer stability and tax benefits like deductible interest and property taxes but require larger down payments.

Then ask them what your options are to reduce payments in the future.

To intentionally reduce the leverage more than required is a foreign concept to me especially in the San Diego market.  

Focus on optimizing the current fourplexes (improving rents, reducing expenses).

Organizational Delays: Section 8 offices are often overworked and understaffed, leading to slow processing times for new tenants, delayed rent increase approvals, and poor responsiveness.Benefits of Section 8:1.Long-Term Tenants: When you get a good tenant, they usually stay for a long time because of the tedious process required to qualify for Section 8 housing.2.Consistent Income: If Section 8 covers most or all of the rent, you typically receive reliable monthly payments, reducing the risk of non-payment (as long as there isn’t a large tenant portion).3.Lower Barrier to Entry: Because properties in these areas are often more affordable, it’s a good way for new investors to break into real estate without needing a large amount of capital.Overall, I’ve seen the good and the bad of this strategy.

Freddie has similar intricacies, but also does not require a two year history of receipt; https://guide.freddiemac.com/app/guide/section/5306.4If you can use the rental income to drive the DTI down so that you can reduce the down payment similar to that of the FHA product, the benefits of the conventional option will outweigh the FHA option, as I'm assuming you have a strong FICO based on rate quoted with no points.  

I retired from my w2 job a few years ago, but recognize that no W2 income reduces loan options.