If I was in your shoes, I’d send a notice to quit (whether or not my state required it) and make it clear that they need to be out by Aug 31.

I definitely wish I had done this when I was in your shoes 15 years ago.

(1st floor tenant shovels snow / the hallway lights are tied to apartment 4B's electric bill so the tenant only ever pays $35/month / etc)Quadruple check the money situation BEFORE closing. 

I'm a newbie, but when you finance a house and put $40k down, and get back around $5K per year, how is that a good deal, if you have $40k tied up for 10 years in a property?

Using 100% cash may save you some interest or lending fees on the initial loan but it may also tie up you cash for a few months until you can refinance.

fbclid=IwAR2xbMhtd4OzEUIhXmJ-k7TXov5vIz6VXJ_MMsEVmIfW1OoLTUe9wpYg8RwThis should tie in well with the urban bourbon experience.

Do you all have any other little tips and tricks to help out someone in my shoes who is trying to increase their savings rate for investing purposes? 

Looking for advice from all parties, especially investors who were/are in my shoes and can help me to navigate the initial surge into real estate while balancing another profession simultaneously.

You tying up the property does no harm to you.

Without seeing your plans and a complete scope of work generally you pour the foundation and basement first, then frame the entire addition and tie into the existing structure and dry in before you open up the existing home to the new space.I would need more info on what you’re doing with the roof to answer that question.