If necessary, you can transfer the property back to your personal name and refinance using a residential lender, since it's 4 units.

I have spent the last several weeks gathering all the data online and building models and views of potential investments.

Does anyone have any experience/advice on approaching a lender about receiving written permission for transfer of deed?

As the Mortgagor, the borrower, you Can’t assign/transfer the note/mtg to anyone else.  

Not to mention that we live in a world of massive data collection for real estate, your “comps” would be easily red flagged by collateral underwriter programs processing your appraisal.

That said, you can buy under your name and then once the property closes, you can do what is called a "Quit Claim" to transfer the deed to your LLC.  

@Yolanda, just as an aside: if you are transferring property from your parent's name to yours, talk to your CPA about possible tax ramifications.

What other data do you have to support an upcoming crash in the Bay Area other than historical anecdotes?

Hi I am a newbie but a Quick Claim Deed contains no title covenant and thus offers the grantee no warranty as to the status of the property title; the grantee is entitled only to whatever interest the grantor actually possesses at the time the transfer occurs.This means that the grantor does not guarantee that he or she actually owns any interest in the property at the time of the transfer, or if he or she does own an interest, that the title is free and clear.

The data is about six months old but definitely shows the some good indicators. http://thememphiseconomy.com/economy/