Building out my portfolio with strategic, secure passively cash-flowing assets to continue to build leveraged equity.

Visa and FinancingYou're correct that securing a mortgage might be challenging without legal status or a W2 job.

Can I use her security deposit to cover these legal fees I've incurred due to her not moving out?

You may or may not wish to fix it since its likely too late to charge the last tenant's security deposit for it and also that it sounds so minor that people didn't even notice it right away.

After securing a deal, your focus will shift to closing, finding tenants, and setting up efficient management.If you haven’t already, building relationships with local agents, contractors, and property managers in PA can save you a lot of time and hassle

Once the municipal/state requirements are all set, do a thorough screening for any prospective tenants, have a solid lease ready to go, and take move-in pictures to have on record for any security deposit deductions after they move out.

Well there's a reason they screen their borrowers, secure their loans with a first position trust deed/mortgage and charge a small fortune to make such a loan.

I think what I need is to find a lender partner that will work with me to secure 3-5 properties over the next year. 

Invest in a security camera—we had a break-in where someone lived in the house for days and stole appliances, which insurance didn’t cover.

There is also the lending field which is quite lucrative if your more into financecommercial real estate if some day you want to be doing bigger deals and making 6 figure commissions checks.. etc etc.to try to start your business as a flipper or wholesaler is tough and it has a 95% failure rate being that it appeals to the mass's of which many frankly don't have the skills to succeed or the financing behind them.OR converselyMake money at your chosen profession save and buy and hold.. buy the best you can hold for long term.. same with buying securities .