Des Moines seems to have two options  - brand new construction or needs a lot of work in a not ideal neighborhood. 

The insurance company (Auto Owners) has deemed it a pollutant which is exclusively denied in the policy though some have said it could be argued as vandalism?

It’s a annual  subscription to get started,but I didn’t renew mine because I didn’t need the links to online banking to auto download transactions and the software functions the same.  

Obviously negative cash flow is not ideal, but it may not also be a disaster if you can cover it until you're able to sell.

So going with a conventional with 3%-5% would be ideal?

For my first investment, debating staying at this house, looking for ideal BRRRR property, and continuing that pattern, or a quasi-house hacking approach. 

Also Nashville has a diversified job sector as well (tech, auto, tourism, logistics, healthcare, entertainment, manufacturing, etc.) 

The more I'm reading into bigger pockets and following podcasts I'm getting quite educated but I'm also realizing that I need to do some soul searching to understand what my ideal end state goal is.

Ideally we would get an attorney to draft up the specifics of our arrangement but things that we are unclear about include things like, who should take out the mortgage (both names v.s. the one who can get the better offer), what documentation is essential i.e. equality/partnership agreement.

Recently I saw a property that looked interesting from the pictures on the online listing, so I went to see the property without any kind of expectation considering that the house was not in my ideal area nor I think I am quite ready to make an offer.