I admire your spirit and outside-the-box thinking my friend.

It helps being willing to talk to sellers/get on the phone and talk to folks in the real estate space in general but the most important thing in my opinion is being an honest and true person.

Same would hold true in a beach environment in the summer months. 

Quote from @Zachary Deal: Choose neutral safe tones and get nice materials but don't splurge too much on very fancy cabinets, counters, appliances that someone else may not value the same as you.This is so true.

I have never found a true 70% deal.

Is $107k your true net, or do you have any other expenses (mortgage, taxes, lodging taxes and fees, insurance, utilities, landscaping, WiFi, etc.)?

House hacking is the best tried-and-true method for new investors in my opinion.

While that may sometime be true, full disclosure to all parties should eliminate any ethical or moral concerns (imo).  

So true, I've read his stuff as well.

A true recipe for financial disaster.