Im 23 and will continue to work until 30-35, and by then I would be able to either continue working BY CHOICE rather by necessity.

If you don't have the liquidity to purchase the property your other option is to finance the acquisition but how do you obtain financing when you can't even show sufficient down payment funds/liquidity on your PFS?

The lender assesses whether the rental income is sufficient to cover the loan payments.

Columbus OH for example is a popular choice, with the city experiencing impressive property appreciation surpassing the national average.

Sounds like a good choice then to do the HELOC, especially if you are going to make it a rental in the future and a HELOC will be harder to come by once it's an investment property.

Unfortunately, some choices are business decisions and you have to get over the emotions of the moment. 

We are stable long-term tenants and would prove to be a good investment choice.

I was under the impression that this clause says  that the appliances are there but they are not included in lease so Im not responsable for them and that it is their choice to use them or not.

Generally speaking, however, LTRs command more stable cash flows over time than MTRs or extended stay arrangements, and may be the better (and lower-maintenance) choice for someone just starting out.

I do have sufficient cash of our own in our bank accounts to show we could cover the mortgage for ~6 months if it was unrented.