IT is costing me about $24,000 to do this because I have to bring the electrical system in both apartments up to current code, plus buy new HVAC units and all new ductwork separating the units and water heaters. 

Greater than 4 housing units in a building classes it as commercial.Building codes are usually controlled at a county level and vary across our country.

Then search your zip code.

San Pedro-Waterfront developmentInglewood-stadium, NFL Network, proposed NBA Arena, Jr PhilharmonicGardena/Hawthorne-overflow from Inglewood and tech...theres about 5 breweries between these 2 cities and cool places like Base 51 (bar, food, race car simulator)

@Tarek Youssefhttps://www.citybigbearlake.com/index.php/city-departments/code-compliance

Most good contractors have experience in current building codes and have made adjustments with the current codes to keep their costs down.I speak from about 30 years of construction decisions in the Dallas Texas area. 

I was thinking something along the lines of a Ring system, coded entry knobs, and a few cameras up high on the corners of the building also.  

@Anne Marie Kodama - Anne if you planning to attend the Bay Area Summit on February 8 & 9 in Oakland, you can get $20 discount with the following discount code "johnson20".

This means, at a 3% commission side, you stand to get back 1.5% applied to your closing (not in cash - unless different in your state, it is a violation of IRS tax code if you receive cash for this type of transaction, unless your agent also sends you a 1099 to cover this extra income).Best of luck in your journey on the first one!

If so, and you do disclose and make it clear in your disclosure that you are not acting as an agent or providing representation, I don't imagine you'd be barred from engaging in real estate investing activities.