If you don't have the commitment to follow the map step by step (i.e. being a 'doer'), then Good Luck creating your own wheel. 

The pressure of committing significant capital and potentially facing financial repercussions if things didn't go as planned.

This is the general rule; there are exceptions and that's why it's good to get legal advice before committing capital.As an aside, it makes sense that property owners that don't pay their taxes might also not pay their mortgage, HOA, water bill, etc., which is why you see these parallel foreclosures.  

Keep in mind that real estate investment is a long-term commitment that demands patience, dedication, and continuous education.

The MO deal would have been hard pressed by the borrower to claim usury since she was a broker herself, she committed fraud by using a phony end buyer (her maiden name) and a phony escrow company.

It really all starts with a conscious decision, a commitment, and that leads all following actions.

I do think we have enough time to get you into an excellent rental by end of year if you are committed to doing so!

Great returns and limited commitment if you do it right.  

If not, I would not commit 120k to a condo if that is all your cash. 120k condos are going to be hard to find with appreciation, but the more you focus on cash flow, the more likelihood the HOA is struggling (low HOA, low maintenance, low priority).You have to figure out what the best asset is for 120k cash and where.

Considering that, may be wise to hold with what you've got until you resolve those issues and see what money you will have available to commit long term without risking a cash crisis if you use your available funds and then find out you have a $50k problem on your hand with the mid-term rental.