So some quick advice would be to focus on areas that either have no interest or future interest in regulating STRs or areas that already have established policies that are working for them and that have reasonable qualifications to entry.  

It's really a shame because I figure I'll need to double my loaned amount to quit my job and I couldn't sustain paying the existing loan off w/ my day job.

I said no, guess what the panel decided for my future with their brand.... you guessed it.

I'm looking forward to the future and getting my feet wet in the real estate world. 

Running up debt for every repair while shuffling cards to pay off existing debt is not sustainable.

I found a mistake my cpa made last year related to REI (it was a simple one but it happens) This year I found a tax break I’m pretty sure I can use in the future that I would guarantee you he hasn’t heard of.  

I will begin to take all of this into account when searching for properties in the future.

Looking to potentially buy my first live-in flip or house hack (what ever the future wife desires) within a year.  

If I find the success I seek, I would like to go back to my second homes Minneapolis and Los Angeles in the future.

They are in the mid $100k and are about 10%-15% from 2007 in good neighborhoods.This isn't a bet on appreciation as they still cash flow but moreover future planning/selling.