Assuming you can financially support hiccups along the way I think it’s a solid strategy.

The "carry trade" is sexy until it destroys your balance sheet.Short term, high value add deals that you can refi would be my strategy although in most cases  I wouldn't risk my home to do it.If you can live with a permanently higher payment then do a cash out refi and keep your powder dry for the opportunity with solid yield.If I sound like I'm speaking martian right now then don't move forward!

Sounds like you have a solid plan in place. 

My goal is to build a solid portfolio of rental properties and supplement the portfolio with fix/flip profits.

Worst case, you waste time and money paying for a lawyer and going to court and getting a judgment, but turns out you are number 150 on their list of defaulted creditors and you will never see your money.

I did a lot of searching & the guys I like best were Ed from On The Level home inspections & Todd from Rock Solid.

Sounds like you have a solid grasp on what your goals are & the plan to hit them.If I can offer some additional insight it would be that It's not really that complicated to buy out of state.

If all does well, I will make it a year around vacation rental since it’s in a solid area to vacation.Unfortunately I am having issues with the last homeowner.

I personally think anyone with fewer than 20 units is wasting money by paying for software when a spreadsheet would do just fine.I recently tested TenantCloud (free for up to 75 units) and it has some really great features for a beginning Landlord, to include online marketing.

We work with an attorney in Maryland that asks questions, gives her opinion and then she provides a solid path to take.