This allows you to generate rental income that can help offset your mortgage payments and other expenses.Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs):Consider investing a portion of your equity in REITs, which are companies that own, operate, or finance income-producing real estate.

Complete a rental verification, but it should not be from any family member or an individual, request there last apartment, or property management company as a rental verification.

Code enforcement never once informed me that i couldn't be here so ofcourse I continued to be in my house with my dogs like I always had before.

They can continue to suffer without my concern. 

As a side note if you were to ever let the permit lapse, expire, etc. you will then be required to bring it up to current building codes, in order to continue use as a Short Term Rental.

If they are on a MTM lease, you can terminate now with proper notice, as that contract renews monthly.The RIGHT way to handle this is to issue a legal notice to terminate as soon as you are able, and continue to conduct yourself in a professional manner with this tenant.

Also,  you will save a lot of money on discounts on rehab materials, vendors, contractors, title company numbers, etc. from their "mastery member" discounts . 

I actually work for a mortgage company and am a loan officer myself but as I just started i'm trying to wrap my head around all the programs and markets.My broker doesn't focus on investors so it might be wise to find someone who does and learn from them. 

They apparently have strict rules about what the owner company can be involved with. 

Others build their own using Boostly or another similar company due to the same concerns you mentioned.