@Brian Ellis re: your routines, it won't be perfect but as long as there is progress every day you'll continue to like the feelings of progress and will optimize so they get better and better. 

Boulevard, Ocotillo Wells, Descanso.I've got kids too ... would be better for us to have a certain and sub-optimal plan than an uncertain optimal one.

That is a sub-optimal decision based on your age, income (my assumption based off your age), investment time horizon and needs (again, my assumption). 

It seems like BP iOS app needs some developer love:1) It's not optimized for iPhone X at all.

Even if we waited a few years, that's not an ideal way to buy a home in my opinion; it's optimal to be able to buy cash without the requirement of selling your existing home and relying on the buyer's financing coming through. 

There is a point when depreciation and cap ex is optimized or we see a shift in the  area or market cycle.But to be fair, I would love to see syndicators disclose their acquisition and disposition fees. 

We'll also be moving cross country do to jobs in about a year so we're saving for that and to invest in the new area, not fans of out of state investors for newbie REIs.Some thoughts on what you could do, and what I wish I would have done right away when we go to our current location.1- House hack2 - do a flip3 - optimize your budget and savings, invest in yourself through books and BP.

What are optimal times I should call, and are there certain legal restrictions I need to be aware of?

Regardless of performance, this is optimal for the company, because it locks down inventory under contract.

You are optimizing for peace of mind as much as returns i.e. balance.