I would assert that when investing in rental property the traits to prioritize are STABLE, predictable, high quality, new construction, hands off, turn key and above a 6 cap rate.

Then once I've mentally cleared of my home owning stress, I could focus on wholesale to accrue funds and go into investment properties then?

Prioritize due diligence, especially property condition and rental history.

It is kind of an archaic mindset because there are better and worse parts of Lehigh, but this mentality has kept me out of trouble and done well for me over the years.

Then, you can prioritize performance, battery life, design, features, brand, etc. based on your needs. 

Deliberately have a few challenges in your screening process - it will weed out "entitlement mentality" problems4) Allow payment plans, but create system to track when payments due, so they don't keep falling further behind You will need to call them on due dates or they will fall further behind Be prepared to give a strong NO when asked if you will change rent due dates to "make it easier" for tenants to pay rent based upon their SSI or paycheck dates.

I feel alone in this endeavor and need guidance from successful buy&hold investors to lower my mental risk and create that first deal within the year. 

Hello BiggerPockets,I've known I want to be in real estate since I was a child many years and recently I've made the decision to forgo the "buy a home" mentality and live nomadically to focus my income on asset strategies for real estate. 

What is the highest and best use of my my mental energy?"

Additionally, prioritize a company emphasizing effective communication and responsiveness to maintain a smooth landlord-property management relationship.These are some questions you might ask : What properties do you specialize in managing?