I would obviously like to hold these properties should they be performing as I plan on doing a 30 year mortgage up front with possibility to refinance to a shorter term up front to pay everything off asap / avoid market fluctuation as best we can. 

@Bryce Deeney put money you’re going to use in less than 5 years somewhere where the market won’t fluctuate like a savings or money market account, not the stock market.

Do the maximum FHA loan amounts fluctuate depending on the individual market?

Something to think about incorporating into a portfolio that's based in more fluctuating markets. 

But they are still short-term tenants, I do get a good bit of gap time, and I expect the income to continue fluctuating month to month because of that.

I've ruined my credit and rebuilt it (fluctuates between 715-775 now).My son is 7 years old. 

The 1-3% fluctuation of prices month over month doesn't mean as much as the year over year appreciation that you hopefully see in the long term.

You have no way to control the fluctuations of the market.

(about 8 doors, but there are mortgages)You left corporate to be an entrepreneur so money fluctuates right nowYou have about 85k on the sideline in liquid for an investment opportunityWhat you do next in the current real estate market if anything?

Prices don't fluctuate as wildly as SoCal.