I have looked at similar properties in the area and they are well outside of my price range, so I think I should continue to rent for a year or 2 and look at investment properties.

This is a great place to be to continue to help you along your adventure.

My goal is to get my first property no later than end of Q1 2018.For my immediate next steps I am 1) starting to write out clear goals on what I want to achieve and break it down into smaller steps.  2) I will be joining the Richmond REIA starting in January (December meeting is Christmas party and I'll be away). 3) Continued meetings with people in my current network that are involved in Real Estate Investing - Found out about a few by chance and have reached out. 

If that first mortgage is current, and you continue to pay it down, the original lender should have no reason to trigger the due-on-sale clause, but this is something that can happen.

This will require some further investigating and also visiting some smaller local banks right to your point @Scott Graham. 

In many areas you are also responsible for charging and paying lodging and sales taxes so be sure to investigate that.  

I would expect it to read that when a tenant requests a repair, they are obligated to provide access.If that is the case, then I would send the tenant a polite, registered letter reminding him he is in breach of his obligations as tenant and informing him that if the behaviour continues you will have no alternative but to terminate the tenancy.Things should have not been allowed to get this stage and this tenant is likely beyond training.  

Daniel,If you are an accredited investor (earning over $200K for past 2 years with an expectation to continue so) then you have some other options besides turnkey. 

And just out of curiosity, if you did well why don't you continue with buying tax deeds?

Nick, if you are able to net $40k tax free, I think the question becomes would you be able to do something with that money that would improve your financial state faster than simply continuing to own your home?