New note investors may not care what you paid for the property but eventually they run into a deal that puts them out of business.

Eventually I will have a portfolio of properties that I can leverage to give my tech companies talent acquisition and retention teeth for employees.I just found out today that the contractor who was going to get my house ready for a tenant is going to move to another city to care for his dad who is legally blind. 

The eventual cash flow from paid off homes will fund the "permanent" home when her career settles down.

Another factor is by the time you do eventually get the tenants out the damage can be even more excessive then when you purchased.This is a risk with short sales as well which is why if it is tenant occupied banks will discount the price some.

My main goal eventually is to be able to buy/flip houses, or buy, renovate and lease them. 

Understand that is entirely possible, and even likely, that if you use those funds to start wholesaling, you will not do any deals and will make nothing.Whereas if you get a license and put in the hours, you will eventually make money.

Eventually you may reach someone to talk to face to face.  

Eventually, you will find a banker that will take you under his/her wing.  

., multi-family, portfolio lender, flipping, self-directed IRA, wholesaling) but having bought a home that turned into an investment, I was exposed to property management, tenants, and the tax implications of now owning an investment property.It started several years ago when I purchased my home (townhouse in another state) and eventually moved away, which in keeping turned into investment.

If flippers you mean a wholesaler etc. then it's a waste of time.If you have shown a broker/agent your liquidity and proof of funds then eventually you should get lucky finding someone if you are realistic.I do not work on residential and just commercial.