All the theory and strategy on here can help prepare you but the best education is doing. 

We're not curing cancer; it's just buying real estate, doing some basic math, buying some furniture and kitchen utensils, maybe getting creative with some amenities, and listing properties on STR platforms...it's daunting when you're new, certainly a grind to get started, but it's not a mystery or puzzle to solve.

Demand for February/March move-ins should see a notable uptick sometime in January, but you'll for sure see your strongest rental demand in late spring/summer.Your most recent post mentioned that you were going to look for someone for a 6-month lease - I think this is a great way to approach it to minimize vacancy loss while biding your time until we get into the higher demand summer months.Getting creative with your lease term and credits/concessions could also be a good way to solve a few potential problems in one shot. 

Quote from @Caleb Brown:  You could see about being creative and doing a seller financed deal but again with no liquid cash you wouldn't have a DPThanks Caleb, I inquired about a seller finance deal but she isn't interested and just wants out completely.I appreciate the input

El Dorado County prohibited this, though it seems there are "creative" ways to work within their framework.

it sounds like you're really eager to deploy a bunch of capital into supposedly cheaper markets, but you're not going to cash flow $500 on a random single family anywhere unless you are self-managing and super hands-on and prepared to deal with rough turnovers.  

Denver Creative Housing, Denver Sublets, Roomies, Roommates, and so on, there are a few good ones)Also, I use Roomies as well because it is a site specific to finding roommate tenants, and there is a huge demand for it as well, so it is a great alternative to fill vacancies for houses if your owners are open to it and you price it correctly. 

If you pick a solid property in a good area with good schools, it'll appreciate - it'll be negative cash flow as a long term rental (unless you have some creative strategy or do STR/MTR) and you're less likely to have repair, tenant issues, crime etc.

He has helped me with some creative financing and outside of the box strategies in the past.

I'm hoping to hear some creative ways people are handling this part of the process.