Holding onto them will more than likely increase their value over time, along with all the equity you built through the flip.

Researching and learning about multifamily investing and management through BiggerPockets.

Got to know about this group through "The Book on Rental Property Investing".

You can also look up your local REIA.

my ex tenant was picked up for smoking pot - I wasn’t held liable for that. 

I am trying to decide whether or not I should go through a traditional bank (JPM), a morgage broker, or try and find a credit union.

So, the short answer is yes, but here is more:1.

My idea to buy a home is to get an 80% LTV 1st mortgage from a bank, take over that mortgage and give the seller a second mortgage for 50% of the 1st mortgage balance because I need some cash to cover the payments, which the amount of cash would be more than the remaining equity in the home.

Hi Sasa, welcome to the BP community! 

Also, you are not buying at a premium and can allow the property to appreciate if that said area is historically improving.