My name is Anthony and I am currently a full-time healthcare professional. 

The front end can sometimes be tedious to get approved by the local housing authority, but rent payments are always timely.

Don't change jobs or income yet.Once you do and you think you can manage the payments based on your new income, maybe once you get the rooms rented.Then if you want to switch there are plenty of opportunities. 

But since that time I left my corporate job, moved states, my daughter was born and is now 6 months old, and I began investing in a new city.

In that time if you are netting $1,500/month - that is $54,000 worth of rental income you would make over the next 3 years.  

Work in several towns and once and be prepared to make several options with one week time limits on them. 

It's just a matter of time.  

HUDuser.org is great for vacancy rates, but cross-referencing with local market reports is important for more context.For job diversity and employers, LinkedIn or regional economic development websites often provide insights.

Im willing to do cosmetic repairs up to about $20k but dont want to deal with a gut job.

This means your tenants' private-sector jobs will eventually end.