Happy to assist.

That can create some frustration in your deals. 

Should I first create a LLC to purchase the property to protect my personal assets?

Test and repeat on different areas. fill hole with caulk or epoxy filler.This should be last recourse diy prayer.If you have no choice but to tear out the shower wall, that will be another topic.If you have high water pressure (above 80psi), try reducing it to 60-70psi.

i dont consider not being able to find an attorney a red flag, is just that they're not insured to do these kind of transactions i found out. i'm sure that other investors are doing subject to deals in north carolina and they're probably using an attorney, or this can also be done by you without an attorney, just need an attorney to prepare the deed. as far as the seller is concern, they have three choices when facing foreclosure, they can catch up their payments on their own, get help from an investor to make up the back payments and take over the loan and make the monthly payments until they're able to cash out and pay off the loan, and third,just go through the foreclosure and completely ruin their credit and i mean very bad credit. 

Then sometimes the inspector comes during hour 1 of the 4-hour window but then sometimes the inspector doesn't show up to hour 5 and you have no choice to wait. 

You may have no choice but to sell your current home. 

Your new flooring, paint and countertops were nice touches, but didn't actually create a demand for your product.

I’d take the difference in rate or another idea is to negotiate a sellers assist and use those funds to buy down the rate  

Quick update on my progress so far @Bradley Rosenberg - I have created a webform to collect all the Fund details & sent it out to some of the members of our mastermind group who run Note Funds for their input (Aspen, etc)  I hope to have some feedback and begin building out the page next month - stay tuned!