I am going to start a significant remodel of my house in Santa Monica and wanted to maximize all possible rebates, grants or energy rebates that are available for new roofs, windows, appliances, insulation, landscaping..ect.I have a basic list (local municipality and appliance rebates) but didn't know if there was anything that I was missing or didn't know about...possibly other agencies?

If your goal is to maximize your retirement plan contributions with a SEP, then keeping things as a basic LLC might be better.If you're really concerned about keeping your brokerage and your personal commissions separate, then two separate entities, possibly either 2 S-Corps or a nested S-Corp/LLC structure might be best.So when tax season is over, sit down with your CPA and outline your goals and your issues and see what they recommend.Now if what you've got is a data entry/"tax preparer" who simply enters your data into tax forms, consider switching providers. 

Basically, I try to identify every problem first and then I start to record.With pictures, I start outside by standing at each corner of the property.

Purchasing the property basically wiped out all my cash, but if i really needed I could use my ROTH IRA in a pinch. 

When multifamily investors talk about 1.90X, or 1.65X equity multiple, are they basically saying that if they acquired the property for $20MM, they will sell it for $38MM, or 33MM?

For example:  First step/page is just basic info... name, phone number, email.

I will echo what @Thomas S. has said.No matter what you read, you need either money or access to it in most cases to make it in this business.Learning how to do the work, even on a basic level, will give you a lot of knowledge and save you money moving forward also.

These days there will often be a map, where you can either click on the property of interest, or enter the address, and get a basic report - whose name is on the property tax records, how much the property tax is, the square footage, year built, etc. 

Good good basic list Martin.

I didn't know anything about rehabs but taught myself to lay floors, tile a bathtub, paint cabinets, paint walls, basic plumbing, you name it.