I would suggest having someone local come look in person as pictures can be tough to judge. 

A couple have suggested I don’t have to file or just need to report losses on Schedule C.

Please pm with suggestions 

Any suggestions you may like to share? 

"Rich Dad, Poor Dad" is an excellent starting point, and "How to Invest in Real Estate" is another fantastic resource.Best of luck on your path to purchasing your first investment property!

When I spoke to an investor friend of mine, they suggested staying away from that neighborhood because it was built on top of a swamp and that the houses there have a higher likelihood to have foundation problems.I wanted to see if there is a way to verify their claim.

Any wide frame suggestions or is a townhome a bad plan due to the HOA ?

Quote from @Clay Watson: I'd suggest checking with a few more lenders to see if they have the same restrictions or if you can find a better deal. 

All I can say is I have a burning desire to gain the knowledge necessary for success in real-estate.Down to the point of this post, I would love to hear from any of you who would be willing to provide me with suggestions of materials that were key to YOUR success and how it helped you.

Thanks for any insights/suggestions in advance,