The rent was $1,200 and their portion was ~$550. 

Repeat.The only other guidance I would offer is investing a portion of the $80k into a coach who has already achieved what you are looking to achieve.

Yes, the government pays the Section 8 rent timely, but more and more tenants are having to pay a portion of their rent.

BTR is still a very small portion of the market in deliveries and less efficient than apartments I'd stay clear if you are new. 

What is the nightly rates average (base that on the size of place you are thinking of getting), what kind of amenities?

From around 2010-2020 I built and managed a small-medium-sized portfolio in my area (which is not an ideal market).

We had camera put in, and plumber could see portions of cast iron and said we should replace everything.

Every county has different requirements, such as minimum square footage for rooms; maximum number of occupants, hallway sizes (If there will be residents in wheelchairs); and safety regulations which are usually different that owner-occupied homes (for example- Interior fire sprinkler systems).  2.

You can create furnace filter size, when XYZ got installed, lockbox number, etc.

I compared size, amenities, whether or not a property was rehabbed, parking, and location.