@Tammy Skeath i went with a light gray, very popular nowadays.

You can put 20% down and avoid the mortgage insurance premium (mortgage insurance for conventional has MANY choices: lender paid with higher rate/ split/ monthly.... and so forth but it is much cheaper than FHA 1.75)Home Ready may have income limits and county limits FICO 620 minimumDifferences are: cost, can you qualify, how the individual regulates your inspections which is lender specific

In the future, we plan to be more conscious about cheap and affordable style choices.

Our goal for the property is to turn it into a popular Airbnb location as well as a destination wedding venue.

I've just finished reading the popular books (The book on Rental Property Investing, Long-distance Real Estate Investing, etc.) and I'm ready to start investing out of state with $100,000.I want to buy homes with cash, but I want to make sure I don't lose money from getting scammed.

I think I probably could have gotten closer to 2k if I had marketed it more...BUT, I feel confident in my choice...I guess time will tell and i'll keep you posted on here. 

Locating what appears to be deals on the popular websites, but when I start on the numbers I get the discouraging brain numb. 8 Cap & 12% Cash on cash.

You'll dramatically improve your chances for success if you have a GC invested in the projects overall successYou'll also want to get a good realtor who can advise on whats popular in your market for finishes, color schemes, ect  Last but not least, find a great home stager and stage the home prior to selling. 

- Bandit signs - many neighborhoods have signs on busy streets, near highway exits, at popular intersections, etc. offer mentorship and help for new REIs.

I am not suggesting you do it yourself but it will help you understand the choices and issues when meeting with your lawyer.