I come from a mental health background and my knowledge of real-estate investing is limited to owning my own home.  

@Mark Phillips What @James Wise said is exactly the mentality I would have going into this deal.Be sure to budget for worst case scenario. 

I have though about it when I have been board and wanting a mental exercise.

(Not sure what your target range is, though I'm betting we have the same challenges here in GR - basically, that 'mental  chasm' that we have to cross when investing of "would I live here....?"

This is a diseased mentality.  

Formulate a definite plan, have faith in yourself and your ability to achieve what you want, feel and see yourself doing it (visual motor rehearsal), then take action! 

I do not have the gift of mind control or mental telepathy, You may be a student of the Law of Attraction but I am a graduate of the Law of Business. 

She said she did not realize that the dogs that she was walking helped her with her mental health, anxiety issues, until she was forced to stop her dog walking business.  

i know your not asking this but to break the pattern, it is best for your mental health to be hands off arms length from your short term or long term tenents, weather they are 12 month lease tenants, friends relatives, sympathy to strangers, you should give to property manager or a manager who will do short term monthly rental, and separate yourself and remove emotion. ps., in florida now, you have an unlawful detainer action and there is still a due process, attorney is needed and there is no throwing someone out on your own, that is not going to happen or you'd lose alot more than you lost now. we buy properties like this and pay for the attorney.  

He did tell me he planned to retire next year from RE, it's getting too mental, it has kept him sharp and entertained, he certainly doesn't need to work like you said John.