If you have previously treated this property as an investment property, one option you have is to move out of this property, move into a different property you own (or into a rental), and then do a 1031 exchange.

Im looking at 7% however I think a better safe guard for me to have enough skin in the game is to move the sales price higher just in case he decides to pay off the loan earlier.

The seller needs moving money, there are oftentimes an arrears that has to be paid on the loan, there are oftentimes HOA fees that are due, there are title costs, there are escrow costs, usually there is deferred maintenance, you have to make mortgage payments out of pocket until you get a renter in there, you have to pay utilities and taxes, and you need reserves in case it all doesn't go as planned.3.

That being said, I'm looking for some reliable contractors to help with a few projects that need some time and attention.Does anyone have any recommendations?

I think I'm ready to move forward with the first step in hiring an architect and using their drawings to get estimates from prospective licensed contractors.

is there a vacant unit for you to move into?

It also is helpful to have a California LLC in case you ever sell that property and move into another state so that you do not need to form a new LLC altogether with new operating agreement, just re-register in the new state as a new foreign LLC.

Either buy all cash and do a cash purchase refi immediately and move the funds to the next purchase.

If I do move, I'm considering a house hack on a multi-family, ideally a 4-plex.Honestly, I'm familiar with downtown Houston, Spring, The Woodlands, etc. but nothing past the Galleria on the West side. 

I have the keys and have begun moving items into the unit, but am not yet occupying it.The landlord has now informed me that he would like to agree to some sort of buyout of the lease because he is having problems with the local municipality for fire and sprinkler approvals.