If your employer only has one 401k provider and most of their funds have high fees you’re kind of stuck there.

They won't cash flow enough for what you're trying to do.One issue I see is employment. 

Yes, the bar is relatively low, in that you must have a for-profit business activity generating earned self-employment income. 

The growth is mostly thanks to an expanding Texas State University — the largest employer and largest property owner in the city.

At the max $50K for example (assuming for a moment someone's TSP is at least $100K not including employer matching), that comes to about $410 every TWO WEEKS.

To qualify for this relief, hardship withdrawals must be made by Jan. 31, 2018.If you participate in a full-time employer 401k plan, you will need to coordinate the distribution with your employer plan provider.On the other hand, if you participate in a self-employed solo 401k plan, you will need to consult with your solo 401k plan provider to help navigate and coordinate

Do you directly employ people or pay a property management company that employs onsite staff?

We can safely say that we don't care about Self-employment tax minimization, only the retirement accounts and keeping independence of strategy / vision.

You will get to keep more of your profit by avoiding Self-employment taxes. 

How do you think an employer would react if their employees came to them and said, "This pay period, I am going to need half upfront (for hours I haven't worked yet), and then I'll take the remainder when I've worked all my hours."