My question is, for someone who is usually so focused on planning everything out first, (ex. waiting to be in a strong financial position), what would you recommend the first 3 steps to be to "taking immediate action?"

Using SFH primary residence with a HELOC (ex. $425k) to purchase a 12-unit Apartment ($1.5M) with 25% down ($375k from the HELOC).The remaining $50k from the HELOC could go into fixing/rehab of the 12-units.Then cash-refinance the larger amount from the 12-units to pay off the HELOC in one lump-sum (as much as possible), then using the cash flow from the apartment to pay off the rest of the HELOC.Repeat the process with a new apartment.1) Does this make sense?

I'm in a similar situation and wondering if I can buy it my ex using the net worth of the properties (gross minis depreciation and capital gains)

It seems like you want to build, then refi out to perm.I really like the new build, no cap ex, much easier to manage, and you have a new asset for the foreseeable future. 

. - Maintenance & Repair: 5% of total rent- Cap ex / utilities: 5% of total rent- Property management: 8~10% of total rent- Misc & reserve: 5% of total rentFull rent: 4800(rent) - 2600(PI) - 800(TI) - 1150(Expense) = $250/mOwner occupied: 3600(rent) - 2600(PI) - 800(TI) - 1150(Expense) = -$950/mOwner occupied & no PM: 3600(rent) - 2600(PI) - 800(TI) - 700(Expense) = -$400/m I thought it would be $0/m if owner occupied although $400/m for myfamily is low enough.

That's what might be priced better, but with no experience and a plan to leave you don't want cap ex.

Compare how you would expect this home to perform as a rental with reasonable assumptions about cap ex, vacancy, repair etc and then figure out what kind of rental or possibly RENTALS (multiple) you could purchase if you sold this property and how would they perform.

I normally research:-Location-Crime-Median House Hold Income (HHI)-Zillow - other similar units + B/B that have sold in the area (ex. 1-2 miles in the past 90-days)When contacting, anything you would ask aside from the following?

My ex-CPA has recommended buying a STR outside of California (I went against this and bought a 30 year-old build Sacramento and it is cash flowing as a STR/MTR hybrid).

San Diego is expensive to Purchase, maintenance and cap ex is expensive, property tax at purchase is expensive in terms of dollars (average SFH prop tax at purchase is ~$1k/month in San Diego), new retail (MLS) purchases are negative cash flow when allocating properly for expenses, it is tenant friendly in terms of regulations but this is largely due to the big advantages LL have due to crazy low vacancy rates.