Regarding the advice you've received from others, the best thing to do is to learn your market. 

It’ll give you better cash flow and more rental income to offset your mortgage.Condos: Condos are fine, but they often come with higher fees and slower appreciation.

There will likely be a partnership return required where you flipped a house with a partner and lost $120,000.If you sold the other property within the same partnership, it will also be reported on that partnership return.The net result to you is that you will receive a K-1 showing your income / loss which you then use to report on your individual return.If you made no money within the same year, you likely pay no additional taxes / get no additional refund.Best of luck.

Even with full coverage insurance you will not receive enough money to actually rebuild your home to today's building codes.  

We don't have ANY lenders that pay to receive loans.

Even part-time is fine.

Right now I'm over $100 than I wanted but that's fine because once I rent it out fully I know I can cash flow about $500 or more.

I also received a letter from the county saying that my property is in violation of several health and safety codes. 

You will receive the security deposit in Checking but then transfer it to Savings.Savings: Hold the deposit here so it's separate from operating funds.

If you're focused on medical travel folks, smaller 1 or 2 bed properties work fine.