They still make sense at the moment since rents are projecting up. 

I had spent way more than I allotted to the project and wound up going into some pretty serious debt to finish things off.  

Banks like to see 1.25 or higher if they are going to lend on a project so that is not a bad place to start.

What profit margins are you looking for to make sure you are safe if you need to take on the project?

Ive been with NFCU for 6 years and believe I just ended up with a disorganized processor/project manager and decided to close out my application this morning. 

You will be able to bring in a partner for a flip while keeping all rentals to yourself - or the other way around, Or different partners for different projects.4.

What other opportunities would you be missing out on by committing your funds to this project instead?

I can see your misfortune on that first property as the foundation for your ability to execute quickly and efficiently on your subsequent projects once you realized the value in doing so. 

I kept very good records of every expense incurred throughout the project.

I believe growing up in a family of woodworkers and handymen has prepared me for these challenges, as I've worked on many houses and projects before and helped build a rather gorgeous 3000 sq/ft log cabin starting from foundation up as a young teen.