Did a "hard money loan" with family using gift tax exemption and trust as collateral (despite what Dave Ramsey says, my father and I have an incredibly strong investing and personal relationship).

My best connections and referrals here in Florida have come from in-person networking events.

However, I've been having difficulty renting one of the rooms because I've noticed some of the potential renters are either super particular, end up wanting to live on their own or with one other person (I have one room currently rented), flake, or come up with an excuses for not meeting with me. 

Here's why:Future Cash Flow: Once your debt is paid off in three years, you’ll have a solid cash-flowing asset that can provide ongoing income.Asset Growth: Property values, especially near a university, tend to appreciate over time.Debt Reduction: You can leverage the rental income to pay off your debt, essentially using your investment to achieve financial freedom.However, personal comfort and risk tolerance play significant roles.

If you can't keep control of your personal finances, you are highly unlikely to succeed in real estate investing.

What's the name of the position or person who can tell me exactly a price range for what areas of the duplex/triplex need to be fixed and how much they cost?)

A lot of investors navigate this by using rental income to qualify rather than personal income.

The insurance salesmen in the personal finance forum preaching “infinity” banking2.

However it feels pretty standard with inventory.

That has less to do with crime (in the area that I live I don't see it as a big issue) and more to do with taxes and tenant-friendly laws.For any area that is higher crime, you should budget for higher vacancy (and significantly higher vacancy if you don't set tight screening standards and have to evict a tenant) and higher repairs and maintenance.Good luck!