That´s what´s on my mind right now, but I am actually very open to learn about different investment methods here in San Francisco and which will fit me best. 

I am looking to work for free under an experience investor to learn the trade.

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

In your scenario @Michael Fanoni, you are/were NOT a contractor, you are simply a broker of tradesperson, someone that knows someone who does the trade, and then simply performed an Unlicensed Activity, you were not in any shape or form a contractor. 

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.