Single family house to live in while making adjustments to the house.

[Cody Tappan]

My name is Cody Tappan and I have around 15,000 dollars that I have set aside for a real estate investment. I have done a good amount of research and read several books but still need advice on where to start with my first home. This first home I am looking to live in for however long it takes to get sold. (3 months or three years). I have around 4 thousand dollars of income per month but its from a personal job that is done out of my home. (Buying and selling used cars and car parts) These are taxed but will make it difficult for me to receive an FHA loan for 3.5% down-payment on the property. Any suggestions on what my first step should be? I want a house for around 100,000-200,000 which is low but I don't mind if its a rundown property to start. I have good credit through USAA (over 700) but don't have much depth with finances. I would be able to pay off the monthly mortgage easy and may even have people living in there with me paying rent. What do you recommend for my first steps since FHA loan will be hard to get with no job through a corporation with pay stubs? If I have a co-signer it would be classified as a "investment property" and that would be 20% down automatically which I do not have. I could possibly have 20K for the down-payment but that's not what i'm worried about. Its finding a fixed rate property and being able to take the loan out for it...?

Any suggestions are appreciated.