(Have to finish an internship to graduate with a degree I'll never use).

As for the flood plain tolerance levels between investors vs. primary residence owners, that makes sense, to a degree, of course...I know there could be some reluctance from renters as well, which I need to account for. 

I have a Bachelors degree in a somewhat unrelated field, and have quite a bit of school debt that I am just now receiving the bills for.

I am concerned about cost to a degree but I feel if I have the correct guidance on what would be the smart way to use my money on the house it could be of huge value to me.Any and all suggestions and guidance are welcome and appreciated. 

About a year after he passed, I left my job and went back to school to complete my degree.

The Media here in Portland is just now picking up on how terrible govmit handled all this homeless and Peaceful protesting.. 180 degrees from the media backing defund the police last year. 

Degree of transparency (no name on property).

It's a small town so networking is crucial and everyone is just 2 degrees of separation away!.    

The degree to whether you can use it or not will depend on your personal AGI as detailed by @Ashish Acharya. 

Find 1-2 GOOD fix and flip partners who don't mind you learning a little, taking some of the risk and getting a bit of the action.Yes it will be hard work, but then again so is getting a law degree and spending 20 years in front of a judge.