We purchased brand new furniture in one rental and 2nd hand furniture in the other.

My dream is to purchase a (10+ unit) in the next year or two.

At Lowes you will enjoy 5% off any purchase at the register which is more than you are likely to get back on your personal card.

Your basis in the property is purchase price plus improvements.

Purchase price: $565,000 Cash invested: $33,500 Bought the house to live in and build an ADU on the property because it is zoned for it.

If you make the investment and install solar onto your rental(s), you would need to enter into a "Purchase Power Agreement" (PPA) with your tenants; But only if your state allows it. 

He is an advocate of subject-to financing to purchase properties. 

As long as you like your job and/or industry and could do it for the next 15 years, what you are doing would work perfect for your plan.As you gain experience, maybe you can move into more units per purchase or start to BRRRR.

I currently own one STR in the mountains outside of Denver and am looking to purchase additional investment properties.  

When I started purchasing more investment properties, it was easier to buy them under our names and SSNs.