Has the selection always been this tight? 

Then I can do my due diligence on that select few.

In the past, our tile selection process typically ends with us saying, "how cheap can we possibly go without it looking awful?"

I am very selective in the locations and types of property I buy in Allegany County. 

vinyl plank flooring looks better than laminate will last forever and is about the same cost if not cheaper depending on your selection.

In the form SS-4 I select that I am a one member LLC.

The company gave them the option to either get it all in a lump sum, or disperse it out over a select number of payments. 

Here are some recommendations for you:Find and connect with other BP members that are in your area: http://www.biggerpockets.com/meetSet up keyword alerts to be notified of the topics that interest you: http://www.biggerpockets.com/alertsRead Beginner’s Guide: http://www.biggerpockets.com/real-estate-investingCheck out BP Podcasts: http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/category/podcast/If you wish to tag someone in the conversation on the forum, type @ followed by their name and then select the name of that person which should appear below the comments box.

My biggest concern was selecting the correct type of financing:  conventional or cash. 

It is in fact a liability that will cost you far more than it will likely ever be worth over the life time of ownership (except in some select markets).Life style choices are not something others can advise you on.