I currently own 2 multi-family properties in the Sacramento area and am actively looking for my next buy and hold deal.

The deed of trust allows the public trustee to hold the deed and foreclose if necessary.

Since I'm brand new to this, I will need a lot of hand holding as I sort through this process and I'm sure I might seem a little "flaky" as I figure things out, particularly in deciding what is the right deal and how the numbers work.

As you accumulate your SF properties that you have purchased to hold for productive use you can 1031 them as a consolidation into a larger MF property regardless of what your debt level is.  

We shall see what the future holds.

Property you purchase with the intent of holding for productive use in business trade or investment and not primarily for resale does qualify for 1031 treatment.There is no statutory holding period but in general the longer the better.  

Fix n flip, Buy & hold, BRRR, etc.  

This (to me) is where the money is in the buy and hold strategy.

Both Rarebird and Northwest REIA hold monthly meetings and are a great way to connect with like-minded investors.

Most of the investments we are buying are buy & hold to generate rental income.