To answer your question about raising rents it depends if it is subject to LA Rent Control or not. 

Smaller Syndications: These GP’s have no option besides raising smaller check sizes.

This only adds to the frustration, as it affects buyer confidence and raises doubts about the property’s condition and eligibility.I also didn’t realize that, in other countries, buyers are often required to put down a significant portion of the payment upfront before even getting under contract.

. $375k speaks to me of a Texas house, and that'd put you at minimum $2500/mo payment and therefore raising those numbers a lot more.

But as I said, they are raised on it and taught to live on it and get by on the rules.

Perhaps you can raise the matter with them. 

I was raised by "Poor Dad (parents)" who taught me those concepts growing up, and is still mostly their values, but they were also lucky enough to have lived in a time where that worked well enough for them as they retired with a very nice nest egg.

I need a mentor to guide me on personal finance and investing, I want freedom and control over my life, I want the very people who raised me to just believe in me this once.

I think you are looking for the % rents can be raised under the Oakland rent control laws. 

Over time, they raised prices, cut the lead amounts, and had their Internal telemarketing team make the first contact and then tried to "warm connect" us.