Here are some of the types of “wanna be” investors who never seem to be able to “pull the trigger:”The Organizer – This individual can’t seem to ever get fully organized - and until they do they can’t possibly make a purchase transaction.

Nobody seems to be talking about WEST SACRAMENTO but my clients and I are focused heavily in this small area because of its close proximity to downtown but also low regulation since it's a small separate municipal government - it's not even in Sacramento county, it's Yolo county. 

Those seem like a great opportunity to save even more money while gaining some useful insight.

It may all seem fine for a bit and then the wheels will come off... ask me how I know! 

After living in the primary property in Orlando I figured we could move back to New England and rent that property out which seems like a win-win as far as getting a conventional loan rather an investment loan.

@Joe Black Otherwise, this does seem odd. 

My hope is to buy in B- to A- area, prefer a small 2-4 unit (they don't seem to be very easy to find).

Seems like I'll get killed with taxes if I invest outside of SDIRA.

I have been generating a "short list" of different markets of interest, and one of the areas that seems promising for short term rentals is Branson, MO.

It seems like the others are telling you to take the practical approach to the situation and you are going to be better off exerting the energy and money in new opportunities.