@Enrique Saucedo, I did a substantial amount of remodeling on all of the units.The first 7 units, in Mountain View had essentially the same level of work: New flooring, new oak kitchen cabinets, new granite counter tops, new appliances, new toilets, new tile, grounding of electrical outlets, sheet rock, paint, new fixtures.

That typically is investors.

Chris T.While we are not flippers, we do use a similar approach by purchasing tired properties and forcing appreciation: it is just rehab-n-hold as opposed to rehab-n-sell.When we are carrying out a deep retrofit on a newly acquired property, we will put a sign in the yard advertising another "modern, heathy and energy efficient home in the making"  with an indication of when it will be available for rent.We typically have the units rented before the renovation is complete.

Here is a blog where I wrote about a recent 42 unit we bought and did creative things to add value. https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/bought-multi-million-dollar-apartment-complex-age-26/Just a few ways to produce ancillary income:- Laundry Coin laundryDetergent/laundry essentials in a vending machine in the common area laundry rooms.Rent individual W/D to each unit-Parking Garage parkingCovered parkingprime spot parkingJust plain old charge for parking-Renovations Interior units upgradesCommon area renovationExterior upgrades for curb appeal-Vending machines In common areas such as exercise room, pool house, laundry or leasing office-Trash pick up service In high-end buildings they have a service where you can set trash outside your door and for a fee maintenance will go around each night and collect it so the resident doesn't have to carry it to the dumpster.

I would guess I physically inspect 5-10 properties for every one I make an offer on and I may only get under contract on 25-33% of those because I typically offer aggressively so my numbers work.

For the drawing up the paperwork, the one option you would have is to essentially be the bank and write up a deed of trust and promissory note and put a lien on the property payable with a due on sale clause or however you structure the payments. 

Here it goes...Will contributing to a traditional 401k to reduce my taxable income now reduce my W2 income essentially limiting my buying power for acquiring more RE?

Pretty typical seller at 10%, your idea of 3 to 4 % is actually more in line with the actual value of that option, at that price range, over that term (1 to 2 years), and you sure aren't buying any cash flow!

For a quick answer, I think typically they require you to season your rentals for about six months and the percentage is generally 70 to 80%.

It is typically about a 2 year process.