Your best bet is to first start educating yourself. 

You're starting off poorly by asking for an inexpensive contractor or worse yet, a handyman.Be aware that most states have laws that limit the work a handyman can do and Florida is no different.

@Andi Sjamsu you best bet is going to be to find something closer to the bay than the ocean.

That means that if you put a great tenant in one side, and the other side gets a bad tenant, you might risk losing your good tenant because of someone else's poor decisions.If you control both sides, and one tenant starts to turn bad, you can evict them so that you don't lose both tenants and you can limit any risk to your property and tenants.

I'd say 28208 and 28215 would be your best bet to look for investment properties. 

Purchase forever home with remaining $Our biggest question that we would love advice, thoughts, suggestions, ideas, etc. is: What would be our best bet investment to add cashflow to our job income so we can qualify for the right price we are looking for on our forever home?

Seems like a d--k move, and really poor (not to mention inefficient) business on their part.I tell ya, about ten years ago insurance companies have moved above used car dealers on my personal shyster list. 

I bet if we did the analysis a 3 year look would be what is needed here. 

If you do re-rent let them know you will prorate their money back and I bet they will work with you. 

That’s the best bet.