I am starting out in my real estate investing journey and was hoping to see if fellow investors recommend pursuing short sales, banked owned properties and foreclosures, versus pursuing typical MLS properties or off market properties with distressed properties or sellers.  

your credit score would not plummet, but you are still responsible for the debt so it will still show up on credit and it will impact your ability to get credit.The only way for her to truly buy you out is to refinance and take your name off of it.My recommendation would be to sell the property, as you may be on good terms now but that does not mean you will be on good terms in the future.

Also, having a simple online presence that tells your story will make a big difference.  

Go to a construction site (production home builders--- Toll Brothers, Orleans, KHov) and find the carpet installer.

MAYBE you could get the court to garnish wages, but that's highly unlikely. 

Put 30% down to flow positive immediately Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

Very humble, hardworking, blue-collar family and they happen to grow up in a part of California that is highly desirable now.

I know the prices are high there but as long as rental prices are high too, that's ok with me. 

Does anyone have a REI savvy accountant in the area they would recommend? 

You can literally find answers to all of your questions within the confines of this site.