By cheaper i mean that it would be easier for me to get into the investment. i am living abroad now on a lower salary, but will be making a position change soon and start saving up a fund for a return to USA and to start investing. plus, by that time, I will have a track record on the san jose property that i guess i can use to get into other properties. 

I’ve got a general idea of what I think painting and cleaning would cost but I wanted to see if it was in line with reality.

My goal was to clean up some of this paperwork since I had four LLCs. (1 LLC partnership for rentals, 1 S-corp for flips, 1 for SD IRA, 1 C-corp) I am closing the C Corp. so now my LLC partnership will show up on my personal tax return on schedule C or E which I do not want.  

Long term that could be fairly challenging I think.If you are talking 100k cash and not leveraging j think that’s much easier

In other words, if the tenant moved out April 20th without paying any rent or cleaning the unit, you could submit all the documentation to a collections agency and let them go after it.

If you have real estate experience it will be easier for you to get a pre approval letter because it is technically commercial property.Or you could just show the broker your proof of funds on the equity side and say your going to be buying with bank loan as well...so basically your LTV will be somewhere between 70-80%

I would concentrate on "condos" as they are easier to manage and sell. 

Waterfront properties are generally easier to sell or rent, will bring higher rents.   

If you really know your short term/long term goals, then it is easier to provide direction.

(I understand that BRRRR or flips are not really for the beginners)Is it really easier to find tenants for rent-to-own than regular tenants?