For instance, most every closing agent is going to be able to do traditional Buy & Hold closings. 

Another option is to Create your LLC, but for your staging business being a DBA for your LLC so you usually pay the LLC fee, and the minimal fee for your DBA for instance your LLC is Cloh consulting, and you have a DBA that simply states to the public that Cloh Consulting, also operates CLoh Staging, and CLoh investments.

2 - Are there any instances where it'd be acceptable to go below the 50% or 2% rules?

I tend to underestimate my existing lifelong network (non REI).For instance, my best friend from elementary school lives in a decent SFR market, and I trust this guy with my life.Bigger Pockets is a great place to network, but you are starting at 0 for every single person you meet.

Howdy,Once I get a property under contract to what extent am I allowed to advertise the property on craigslist, for instance?

Our intention is to sub-meter the building, but we are slowly moving units over to independent cold water supplies as they become vacant - in some instances we've had to run new supply lines to second floor bathrooms (and leave the old capped in the wall) in order to isolate one unit from the other ... lots of holes in walls to be repaired.

Like for instance I had a deal last week that called for the realsease of EM to me after a specified date.. and the buyer would have had to cancel in writing prior to that.. the date came and went ( by at least 2 weeks) but title still would not release Em until buyer signed. 

For instance if you both as partners have the same tax id and later want to do a 1031 exchange then you are stuck using that partner or you have to pay taxes.

and (2) from asking around thus far, seems like in some instances the builder pays the owner's title policy anyway.  

There are instances where the tenant is an upstanding person who just fell on hard times and is trying to get back on there feet, but there are also instances where tenants will take advantage of the system.