I see a lot about how you should secure your method of financing prior to looking for a property.

Any suggestion on the easiest, safest, most legal and feasible, aka "the best," or "ideal" method of completing the actual sell of the lease option in California, for 2016? 

My method to date has been buying a house about every 1.5 years.

Paying cash for the 1st rental is key and it is great you have the equity from your primary to do this.So I spoke with one lender that deals with investment financing and this is the method.  1: buy house with cash2: remodel and improve with intention of buying into equity3: (this is the tricky part with time)  Wait 6 months (some make u wait 12mo)  and get reappraised with intention of financing for 70% the appraised equity.4: Use the 70% pulled from 1st home to buy your 2nd property.This method works better in flips because once the 1st home is sold you can do the method over agian.  

What matters to me are the bidding methods (eg.

Very common method with personal houses, single family, duplexes, multi units, etc and can remove a huge "Potential" tax burden.I m sure some the BP members have a generic Contract you can Customize for this deal, eliminating a lawyer fee.

One of the most common methods is by combining business and personal funds. 

All the store fronts are empty and need to be completely renovated (plumbing, electric, heating, renovation). 

I've tried this method several times and have only landed funding from close friends and family who know and trust me.

Thank you for any advice and strategy or method.