Sometimes it's difficult to think logically about my first purchase vs. longer term (2-3 properties) because of the emotion/sentiment of also wanting to call my first property home part of the time. 

Two separate things...the code enforcement violations will actually be an investment in improving your property.Evicting a non-paying tenant will actually be a financially and emotionally rewarding experience for you.  

It's tough because we have a lot of emotional attachment to this house, but we've decided it's in the best interest of our future selves to invest in real estate now, and part of that plan is to move out of this home, and purchase another for 5% down.

Not always but a lot of the time they are emotionally involved in the property.

As the author of “Flipping Houses,” I must caution new investors that flipping a house is a difficult process filled with a rollercoaster of emotions along the way.

You will learn along the way, but as long as emotions from a bad guest to the next guest are not carried with you (if you had a bad guest), then you will be fine. 

The guests just informed us that one of the members of their party will be acquiring a certified ESA (Emotional Support Animal) dog next month.  

owner seems unwilling to budge and emotionally attached to price.  

You will be faced with all the buyers who are in the market with emotion.

He had been marketing it all along.I don't care if someone makes a profit, but I would appreciate not being lied to and manipulated emotionally.