Any networking recommendations or tips would be greatly appreciated!

Typically Portfolio Lenders have a little bit more relaxed guidelines and care more about the feasibility of the project and potential rent assignments than the borrower.

Any of those are good places to meet some other investors to get some tips, as well as deal sponsors that you may decide to invest with, after building a relationship. 

As healthcare goes down he tubes, I am diversifying my income...I think.

You could be tip toeing on discrimination on people count so be careful.

All tips or pointers you have would be very helpful for navigating the area and property type I am looking at.

(this last tip is for the sell or rent side).What is my distilled best ideas for highest stress in Aug 2016 (this changes over time which is why Guru advice often doesn't work) is:- late on taxes.  

Please share any tips on what to look out for when hiring a contractor for renovations to a property you are looking to flip.

All you should be calling your house is a rental, who you rent to is irrelevant to the policy, you could say it's for retirees, but legally it's just a rental and anyone can rent it.You also need to be careful in your tenant selection process trying to weed out the public to provide housing for only students.

There are some useful tips regarding investing in condos.