I don't want my houses to look like the builders and generic stuff.I usually have a "look" I try to repeat in most of my houses and bulk buy those things, for example, bought some white subway tile last year on black friday and ordered 1000 sq ft. 

Reinvest all the cashflow you get from these properties to get more properties--> Repeat.

Reading more on BP it looks like I should try to cash out my personal funds so when the next comes along I can have it on hand to buy and repeat.

in real estate that is not rentals, but rather property development such as new construction or frequent flipping.If your goal is to diversify that existing savings into real estate, then a self-directed IRA will be the vehicle to explore. 

The reason is that distress and motivation usually take some stimulus event to occur like lost job, health crises, relocation, etc. and if you're targeting once every 3-4 weeks you're not over-mailing and getting ignored, but you're mailing frequently enough that they remember you and your company.Follow-up is the key.

I sub in my profession frequently, and the colleagues I sub for don't and can't carry WC insurance for me as I'm not their 'employee'; I have to carry my own GL (and health insurance).   

The goal of course is the BRRRR strategy - Buy, Reno, Rent, Refi, Repeat.

Same rules as #3 but you also have to have owned the property for 5 years minimum before you can take the primary exemption.Certainly the first two options are the most frequent scenarios. 

Yet so many resources are available broadcasting what you shouldn’t do , why would you repeat those mistakes.

.,#1: Yes, it happens frequently.#2: Yes and yes however you can find out for free without having to pay a title company.