Study (as said, really good tips there), from there figure out your game plan/business plan, then just start calling banks and talking to loan officers.  

I am thinking about upping the game and buying my first multi-family home later this year, probably in fall.

Final would be completing the application with the City of Redlands or perhaps in some cases San Bernardino County, pay the required fees to related agencies and then play the waiting game for approval and assignment of new APN number. 

For e.g. with a 15% IRR, two scenario will play out differently:Scenario 1: 20/80 straight split - Sponsor/Investor (GP/LP) split: 3/12Scenario 2: 8% preferred return, 20/80 split for returns above 8% - Sponsor/Investor (GP/LP) split: 1.4/13.6As you can see, Scenario 2 is better for the investor BUT long-term if you make your investors happy they will keep coming back to you.

He told me the developer never funded anything to start the hoa like he was supposed to so they were playing catch up.Yet another reason why I'm hoping my offer of 2k or 3k will be enticing enough to just let them stay out til the end of this lease.

The whole point of a down payment is that you have serious skin in the game and won’t walk away if things don’t go smoothly.  

Create investing games and simulations. 

Disclose it.Teenagers playing loud music on the weekend?

I honestly would like to learn how to step up my game on this too.

They don't have a skin in the game.