It sounds like you have already spoken with some commercial lenders....so let's broaden our scope here. 

Examples - owner occupied loans for house hackers, specific market knowledge (ie - friend of mine that ice fishes and bought a short term rental cabin in an ice fishing spot that you and I would never know of), ability to do renovation on your own or cheap, contacts with local companies or organizations that would be a tenant source for mid term rentals, ways to source off market deals, etc.Whatever it is, figure that out and get started.

I have a buddy who bought an ice fishing cabin in New England for next to nothing and earned a 50% cash on cash return because he has been ice fishing there for 15 years and knows the intricacies of that world and how to cater to that customer. 

You may have to broaden the search to all of Ohio, as self-storage can be tough to find.

By prioritizing the data and broadening my search to different markets, I managed to achieve success.

The fishing is world class and you should definitely come see us.

I’m looking for initially maybe 5 books and/or articles that will help to greatly broaden my knowledge on this industry and the investing process.

My main concerns about Florida include: Chinese Drywall (very toxic; found in older homes); HOA Restrictions; Lots of people/crowds; sinkholes (properties sinking into the ground); Red tide (dead fish found on beaches due to algae bloom); Homeowners Insurance costs (w/older roofs); Mold; Hurricanes/Flooding , New construction (not always built to quality)... these are the most common issues found in the Florida market.What zip codes would you recommend for a single family investment property under 300k to mitigate these concerns? 

Imagine you have a fish in the ocean that doesn't eat.

For me if I was not doing deals I would be bored to tears :)  only so much golf and fishing one can do .