It isn't that they aren't going to be possibly affected but it is much less likely.

And since I would like to go back to it being a STR when some of my life calms down in a year or 2, it doesn't make tons of sense to get rid of it all and then start again!

Rates are usually in the high 8s or low 9s, and you are likely going to pay 3-4 points for these loans. 

Should I use 401K to payoff mortgage and have that $2,000 as income OR take 4% of that 401K (only 8K) as income and keep the mortgage? 

Hi @Colin Ford, welcome to the forums and to St Pete!

Best approach is to have your "team" set, before going out to secure properties. 

What price range do you want to be in if you're going to take it down yourself.I wonder how all these deals will turn out.

You could say you want something within a $$ amount but if it's going to cost more then you miscalculated the budget. 

I'm looking to purchase my first property with my fiancé (both 25) with the goal being to establish our primary residence together, as well as giving me the opportunity to add equity/value via rehab before moving on and converting the property into a rental within a year or so to kickstart an investment portfolio.An interesting lead that recently came up is my parent's neighbor's house.

And you are saying agents, the ones trained to do real estate are messing up the deal, and not you?