Getting a civil engineer and/or architect with experience in the area will be able to guide you through much of this. 

Hot tubs are not a big draw here, but necessary in mountains IMO.The few times Ive been in NOLA (excluding Katrina with the Army :/) I did not feel like I needed a pool, nevertheless a hot tub.I would find the data and let the numbers guide you, but Im thinking maybe a plunge pool as mentioned above.

If you have been building for a while we also offer a 5 year Guided line of Credit through the SBA. 

I'm particularly drawn to Columbus, Ohio.I would love to connect with an investor-friendly real estate agent in Ohio to help guide me through the journey.

Here's a guide that describes what good cash flow looks like and how to analyze a property.https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/rental-property-cash-flow...

This will be important for tax purposes and overall financial management.If you're feeling overwhelmed at the end of all this, consider hiring a property manager or consulting with a real estate attorney who can guide you through the process and handle any legal concerns.

Here's a detailed guide on how to screen applicants: Application Screening Guide

So yes, you can guide the contractors, you just can't swing a hammer yourself. 

Many lenders hare restrictions or guide lines on how long you have to keep the house in order to flip the house, while others have guidelines on how small a mortgage they will consider.

There are "rules of thumb" to operate by, but they are general guides that change with time and definitely change with markets.