At this point, I’m ready to start researching areas and learning what constitutes a good sustainable deal.

When you want deeper understanding about contracting, specially paper contracting, types of contract, how to manage a contract, how to read plans, how to compose a scope for subs, how to manage subs, what constitutes a change order, what is a legible CO and what is not, etc, then you are looking for a Construction Management Certificate (this too is a couple of thousand), I would suggest on-site course instead of online since you are new to trade works, this will be your biggest investment, but it will also be your biggest asset, maybe this is a 1-2 year course, be sure to pick everything you need first. 

So you'll need to work with your accountant to establish exactly what % your are treating as investment and what part constitutes your residence.  

The inspection did reveal some minor to major issues but due to the fact that our offer doesn't constitute a "deal," we want the seller to make the repairs or provide some credit. 

Rental credits constitute equitable interest, and under dodd frank, is viewed as a form of an installment sale (which falls under a contract for deed scenario).If you're going to sell as a lease option, then don't credit anything towards the purchase price except for the up front non refundable option consideration.

By the way, both of these activities are protected under the Constitution.

RE Schools are teaching it, i.e, against wholesaling: 2015 FL RE Statute and Constitution 475

You never want to put a potential lease option buyer into a home they had no chance of being able to buy before the option time frame expires.One more thing, a lease option will generally not constitute as a "refinance," because they didn't own the home to be able to refinance in the first place.

You bought the property, not the tenant.13th ammendment to the Constitution abolished slavery.Sorry.

Before I purchase that first "investment" property, I need to be clear about what constitutes a "real" gain in wealth with this strategy - whether I choose to rent or sell the property post-reno.