What type of property would you suggest as a first time purchase and what loan pre-requisites should I be preparing for?

Prepare to get a new conventional loan on an owner occupied property in 5 months and stay in that house for a year. 

Had you wanted mold testing they very well may have had a higher contract price, so they had room to lower the price after you did testing.Use integrity.

I would also recommend looking for a tax strategist who is willing to work with you throughout the year, not just when preparing your tax return.

I totally agree with "testing the waters" in a familiar area as far as self-managing, renovation oversight, etc. 

Make sure you are properly prepared. it will take even longer to get started if you get burned. 

In particular, are there any can't-miss do's and don'ts in terms of marketing and preparing the STR for guests? 

I have two questions.In doing my due diligence before the purchase, how can I ensure which tests/surveying options are required or not so that I do not overspend on those that are not necessary. 

Pro School really tested you and held you accountable; they wanted to make sure you passed the exam the first time.  

I was surprised when I read that and was just testing the BP community for other opinions.