Use a cash out refi to reinvest into more long term rental propertiesTake out a HELOC for a flip/other short term gain opportunities 

In terms of living in Columbus, it's affordable and the nice thing is you can be pretty much anywhere in 20-30 minutes. 

Even small, common mistakes like renting below market, picking the wrong tenants, unwilling/unable to enforce lease terms, slow turnovers, or unscrupulous contractors can cost more than a good PM will charge, and that's before you account for your time and the stress.If you have the personality, I recommend self-management for anyone who lives within 1-2 hours of their investments.

Also for those with section 8 experience, how much work is usually needed to pass inspection, how long is the property usually vacant for and where can I find assistance for the steps along the way and all the paperwork.  

As long as you are in your due diligence contingency you can back out with minimal expense.

Quote from @Bradley Hendrix: That is a long post, but it's what people need to hear.

It seems that things work pretty smooth until something bad happens to the home, then it can turn into a "phone call" nightmare really quick, and it did.Now, we are thinking about long term renting.

This would qualify the property for long-term capital gains treatment. also, if you command decent rents, it’s going to help you flip that property at a higher price point with solid tenants.I also agree with the sentiment that if you decide to flip it and pay tax that’s a good problem to have because it means you made money on your flip and that’s the goal!

I actually ended up working with a DFY arbitrage program that finds the right property, negotiates the least terms with the landlord, and even has an interior design department to set up your listing.

Therefore the time frames don't align and presuming that people logically stop paying their taxes and mortgages at the same time, the Sheriff Sale would happen long before the Tax Sale.