What might help you for the next attempt is to read (BP's book written by yours truly--The Hands Off Investor), and network (join a community where investors discuss deals, trade advice and observations--coming soon will be Passive Pockets, an offshoot of BiggerPockets which recently acquired the popular passive investing group Left Field Investors).

My friend tells me I should charge 1100 to the new tenant that I’m trying to acquire.

Bulk Purchasing: Work with large property owners, banks, or distressed asset funds to acquire multiple properties at discounted rates.

The community leader, Josh Roosen, really goes out of his way to make you feel connected.And that's the real value of the group at the end of the day: They are committed to your success.A little about my track-record, since joining the group last year I've done:1) acquired 80 units ($7mm in assets) across 2 syndications and 1 joint venture2) Launched a podcast (Multifamily Investing Made Simple)3) Will be publishing a book (Passive Investing Made Simple) in June. 

What is your secret sauce or what skills do you have in your toolbox that help you acquire these properties at discounts? 

If you want to acquire the property and have it deeded directly into the LLC, you are looking at either purchasing it with cash, a commercial loan, a DSCR loan, or hard money. 

I acquired the four-plex with varied levels of updates, but would need/want to paint cabinets, paint doors, trim, walls; if carpeted, replace carpet with LVP; replace faucets with modern faucets, etc.

Unless you make a great wage, and have deep pockets... acquiring the next property is going to be difficult. 

With interest rates and prices skyrocketing, I believe this strategy has the potential to become a hot trend in our area.My plan is to acquire properties via seller finance or subject to, optimize it for this strategy and then repeat the process to multiply and increase income sources.

This would be our first investment property, and acquiring it this way is so new to me.