Install low profile LED lights or wall sconces.If this is an investment property you need to be thinking about returns.

now if you could get a seller to be the bank I get that you could smoke and mirror those deals.. but i would think those would be picked over low value or properties in the worst areas of town etc..   

Some of the materials we choose and asked him to pick up (such as flooring) he replaced with low quality materials, I assume to keep more of our money for himself. 

We do not have a resident benefit package, and we keep our tenant fees very low.

An investor who is buying the duplex next to mine wants to trade a duplex he owns in a neighborhood nearby so he can have 2 duplexes next to each other (long story no need for those details). 

That's a very low amount given it's a commercial property.

If you intend on putting in 50 low ball offers a month, make sure your Realtor knows and is ok with that amount of legwork (because it's a lot).

Having a long-term rental while living abroad is do-able.Flipping houses while abroad, in my opinion, more difficult, especially if its your first go around with real estate.I would recommend taking a flight and staying in the area for a week and inspect the neighborhoods and make connections.You can reach out to @Elenis Camargo who has a PM company in Jacksonville.Best of luck though.

So making it my primary is a low bar.   

@Stephen FlemingFrom my experience working with over 400 investors, your strategy of leveraging a low mortgage rate, tapping into home equity, and diversifying with a short-term rental (STR) in Northern Michigan is well thought out.