As an experiment, you could put pictures up of one of your properties with or without a pool/hot tub and see if there is a significant difference in inquiries (just make sure to have instant book off!)

It takes 1-3 years to graduate, but you will have instant credibility once you do.

However, since I don't necessarily need to be totally hands-off in my investing, I'm now also looking into doing a flip in some of the lower priced areas of Southern California, like Riverside or San Bernardino county with the aim of taking on a project with a bigger potential payday.

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September home sales down 3.8% and Apartment and Industry investors stocks rise.This is another incentive for SFH's to maximize cash flow and not count on appreciation as your payday.

Expecting "instant equity" requires you to either buy below market rate, or you will have to force appreciation by making substantial capital improvements as soon as you buy. 

If you are getting a quality tenant in that area and you already have instant equity the long term return of holding it would most likely be the best verses selling it as a flip.

but I don't know how to finance the remodels needed, because each unit will be remodeled as tenants move out and not all at once (All the units are currently being rented aka instant return).

This allows us instantly to know that it is not in use by any tenant and can help insure that we swap back to tenant cylinder prior to providing the new tenant keys. 

However, I'm worried that using the word "investor" will instantly turn sellers off, and I'm also concerned that people who don't know what I mean by "owner-financing" will ignore me.