Before anything else, I would suggest you take a piece of paper and write out the reason you want to become an investor.  

Get transactional RE attorney to write up any notes, deeds of trust, etc.The next best alternative is probably to get a cash partner and go in 50/50 or some agreed split owning the property in an entity with a clear operating agreement that spells everything out.  

I wish I could go inside and check 'em out, and then write my own offer.

I could have the studio portion of the property (now functioning as the living room/kitchen) maintain its shared entrance with another unit in the property.

Then I ACTUALLY hand write yellow letters and send them off.  

Now, write the following ten times, no, make that a hundred times!

I write into my lease rules that the tenant is responsible to keep their front door/walk/stairs free of "snow, ice and debris".  

I want to learn how to prospect and evaluate property, write up my own contracts, how to acquire land without having to put any (or little) of my money down, etc.

You have to write a check and cash a check for the 8%... that would be the appeal.

Once I find a motivated seller and I want to put in an offer, should I just print out the California state contract and write it up myself?