He would at least do better than my first attempt at drywalling if I tried it to save money.

@Mickey Scott, if you attempt to assume someone else’s loan, do keep in mind that you’ll have to come in with the cash difference as down payment between sales price and loan amount.

I told him that his job was to unclog the drain, not to make a partial attempt.

Did you attempt it for a time but find it not worth the effort vs. other cost-cutting strategies? 

I have ordered Denise Evans book.I think I should also work to lower the taxes on any properties I obtain, not by rezoning but rather attempting to adjust the appraisal value. 

About 1.5 years ago, I purchased (conventional loan) and have been living in a 3x3.5 townhouse with a family member (brother) in a first attempt to start building equity through a house hack/BRRR strategy. 

Not being familiar with California laws I would advise consulting an attorney to attempt to either raise the rent if possible or to evict.

Lot of foot traffic from shady characters and not the cleanest of properties.

In a modern house without any character, I think it is beneficial to have a mostly open concept for public rooms, Of course if there is room for a living room and a family room, one should be separate and more of a hangout space. 

I don’t always raise the rent fully to market value in an attempt to try to keep the tenants.