This way I'm semi-retired working my own hours and enjoying the tax benefits of a RE professional.

I finally sold the property for $265,000.  

An update...It took some real patience, but finally received and signed an amicable contract for the featured agent program. 

I finally got a professional in to finish the work, but based on schedule slip on my end and the cost of the handiman I ate into the margin I got on the purchase. 

Sorry to be a wonk, but the reason is that many expenses are semi-variable.

Tenants, "go into Holiday-mode" and start spending disposable income (and racking up their credit cards) on Thanksgiving feasts & trips, Xmas presents & trips, and finally NYE plans.3) Income Tax Refund checks start being received towards the end of February and corresponding, the rental market starts picking up again as tenants payoff their “Holiday Hangovers".4) Spring Fever starts, sometime in April-May, causing both sales & rental markets to start picking up.

After years of listening to the BP podcast I finally joined.  

We got the price to a much more reasonable amount, allowing the seller to finally sell it, and passing on a good deal to the end buyer What was the outcome?

A final choice would be to rent the primary in a few months, reside in a rental for several years, sell the primary, and purchase another SFH for rental and a SFH residence as a new primary.Is this a viable place to begin investing?

When it gets down to D day motivations finally change and reality finally sets in.