If not, I think the question becomes, does Option 3 or Option 1 set you up better to build a track record and transition?

Samuel Yi Sell the Barstow property and u can transition to a multi family in Apple valley or Hesperia where quality of tenant is better.

Sure, you can't devote your full time to it, but if you're working on one house at a time, you either contract the rehab work out or go over and work yourself when you're not at your full-time job.I prefer the safety, stability, and steady stream of income from maintaining my full-time job as opposed to the more immediate increase in freedom and autonomy from pursuing real estate full-time; at least, until I feel that I'm making enough from my investments that I can comfortably make the transition.

@Ryan Detig I currently have a job (for 5 years) where I'm making just around $22/hr, and I'm planning make the transition to this full-time so that is why I want to do this myself.

When inheriting tenants try to avoid closing at the end of the month so everyone has ample time to transition to the new landlord. 

Same goes for The Heights, although that encompasses are larger area and, thus, has more supply in the 2- to 4-family range.There are some nicer sections on the west side as well, but they're not quite as accessible by public transit (PATH/Light Rail) as those near LSP and in The Heights.At the end of the day, what's considered "safe" is kind of subjective.

Lot of people commute into Richmond to catch public transit.

I’ld like to start in SFR and transition to Multi-Family over time.

You may be able to find some things in a decent price range in neighborhoods that are in transition, but that all depends on what you feel comfortable with.If there are any questions I can answer for you, fell free to reach out. 

I have come back to SMU (graduated with a degree in finance in 2012 and then proceeded to work in banking for 4 years) to effectively make a transition into the commercial real estate industry by concentrating in Real Estate.