But I have a feeling the seller will opt for 1 and I'll have to provide some rational reason as to why it needs to be 2 or 3.  

It's hard and time consuming to fight city hall.  

As to financing it, just don't do a consumer loan, make it clear in the note and deed of trust that it is for a business and investment purpose. :)

Driving for dollars may be a little more time consuming compared to just sending mail to absentee owners but it works for me.

I found his training to be overpriced, time consuming, intermediate, and poorly organized.

Laminate,  lasts longer is more durable as well as higher demand for consumers.

@David Diner@Jd MartinI agree, I have been thinking of RE as more of a hobby for the last 8 years even with 12 units, it does not consume as much time (thankfully) as my full time job.  

I worked in corporate sales, mainly advertising and consumer marketing sales.  

Doing renewable 12 month terms will not be circumventing the requirements as there is the intent card that will be played.Dodd Frank doesn't apply to commercial financed options, it clearly applies to consumer financed options when the option price is applied to the sale price. 

I would try to own and get financing but I like your approach or you could see if third willing to do owner financing but the lease to own opt i think was good