With regards to the vandalism, I've already thought of using temporary security systems when a unit is vacant in the future (hopefully that puts me on the right track if I'm asked for an explanation). 

So i feel like I will be taking a temporary pay cut to get back almost 50% of my time.

The easiest solution is to wait to buy, move down and rent, establish the new job and then buy but I'm wondering if there is a work around so the timing is a little smoother/I don't have to move into a temporary rental. 

Get balance transfer offers, get a temporary second job, drive pizza or Uber in the evening, borrow a bit of money from a friend or relative, etc. and beat the interest and you will be good.

There are also signs of a cover up at the base of the foundation because there are new concrete blocks there to hide the foundation and a temporary drain placed nearby to prevent water from reaching the foundation.

I think the general rule is that those do not count toward you COC as they artificially inflate it temporary, and then when you actually realize the expense, they would count against it worse.

This means around the 1st of the year there is a temporary boom of unqualified renters entering the market and to make matters worse the temperature normally drops tremendously which increases the danger of frozen pipes or high utility bills (choose one or the other) insurance agents tend to frown upon vacancies... 

Also, a broker we are talking to said we easily qualify financially but her underwriter will require us to 1) move out of our townhome first into a temporary month to month rental, and 2) rent out our townhouse first and 3) then show the underwriter the 1-year minimum lease to satisfy them that we are not going to commit fraud and not move into the duplex. 

I've been watching my local rental and housing market closely over the last 6 months (btwn Den and CS) and can't help but get the impression that there may just be a temporary investor/rental glut at this time.

I think there are some online banks that have nice returns but for me I’m not really trying to have a savings account generating interest at a bank but rather in real estate and the money in the bank is only a temporary holding spot