I should mention my dad is a disabled vet as well and is maybe interested in growing a portfolio too so we could team up.

@Bob AveryLike Wale stated I would go to MNREIA meetings to further your education and expand your team. 

While we didn’t need significant updates, our team focused on cleaning, staging, and marketing to highlight the home's features.

You have come to the right forum to gather advice etc from experienced investors, realtors etc

Happy to personally introduce you to the team if you would like. 

In my market most of the experienced investors are not buying to buy and hold due to the cash flow issue.  

How many experienced failure and gave up?

I'm pretty new to the game and would love to get some advice from more experienced investors here!

Research shows that the more experienced home buyers have a longer and generally more specific list of demands than first-time home buyers.If our buyer does not have a home tour checklist, I give them a version that I have used for years (I did not create it, another investor shared it with me and I have used it). 

I have a couple of friends and clients who have tried them and, from what I've heard, similar experience to what @Amere Mack had experienced.