Use AirDNA.co for market research.Search the immediate area, in "Traveler mode" to see what the competition is doing.All that said, I concur with the general sentiment of the above comments.You are already running tight. 

Also, consider financing strategies that allow you to maximize leverage instead of tying up all your HELOC funds in one deal.If you want to run numbers on different financing options, let me know.

You will likely run into a lot of late-20's/early 30s guys doing this, who have a lot of confidence but not a lot of experience.Overall, I think the biggest thing is finding a group that generally has the same outlook as you. 

Agents can quickly run comps so that would be helpful for you.

Start running deal analysis on properties during this time. 

Sec. 8 works well in some markets and it can be a premium and successful for locals who own a bunch of them and run them with an iron fist..

$25k is only 4.16% of your new purchase price, heck of a deal.Thank you for your service and let me know if you want to talk any more details and run actual numbers based on your situation.

I've seen many investors get burned because they failed to understand their hard money loan terms/rates, even if they did acquire what should have been a home run deal. 

Unfortunately due to the business you choose to operate incidents like the one you experienced are more likely to occur compared to a property that's continually occupied by a tenant where the water would more likely be run at a higher frequency which would prevent the pipes from freezing.  

Is this your group you run/started?!