Emphasis on local area connections with cleaners, handymen, pool/landscaping, etc.

Debt service coverage lenders will not lend to you as a owner occupier because they are not set up to comply with HUDs notice and regulatory provisions.

Household materials (paper towels, soap etc.) landscaping, and maintenance and repairs etc.

@Gene HackerThis is why I chose to do all the basic work on the house I bought in 3/1/2009 The property came with plumbing issues, roof issues, landscape and tree issues and so on.

The hoa also has to have reserve funds for parking lot, exterior maintenance, landscaping, maybe hvac,etc.

I have a goal of making $3,000 / mo or having 10 doors, and "repeat" feels like a pretty key part in reaching that goal with my starting capital (haha)I was thinking that maybe I can just add value to the property but touching up the outside / exterior - landscaping (cutting down trees, planting new plants, etc), exterior paint, repaving the driveway, etc.

We did make a few upgrades like painting all walls and cabinets, cleaning up all the trash outside (there was quite a bit), de-mossing the roof, and some landscaping improvements like putting in a path and adding planters.

I would recommend joining California Apartment Association, https://caanet.org/As a member you get access to all the forms you will need for a CA landlord...and they are constantly updating the forms to comply with whatever the legal landscape is.

You said your general contractor quoted you $12k per unit + $3k per unit for landscaping.

Added in-unit laundry rooms, new kitchens, new bathrooms with subway tile, roof, electrical and all new plumbing, minor landscaping and fresh exterior and interior paint.