We had a car drive through the side and we need to get the scope repaired with the insurance claim. 

Ask yourself, is that truly equal to the financial hardship you sustained here? 

More then half of the down payment came from a HELOC on my condo, and the other half just working an extra 30 hours a week driving Uber. 

So far it has averaged me 1 hour a month in work to visit it twice a month due to drive time to pick up coin op laundry.

For example, some of the investors I mentor offer to Drive for Dollars and identify possible leads which helps populate my pipeline.

The bank is going to be confused too and it'll be up to you to convince them that the STR income is sustainable and reliable. 

Regarding finding properties...Check out Driving for Dollars as a way to find off-market "affordable" properties.

Nobody wants to move this far from their 9-5... personally, I don't mind the drive.

Same builder, same house, in same neighborhood for example could back to a busy main street in the entrance of the neighborhood, could face West where people prefer East facing, be the house that everyone drives by and lights shine in the front windows when you enter the neighborhood, could back to power lines in the back of the neighborhood, could be next to the community pool, could be on a corner with a bigger lot, and a host of other factors go into pricing....not just size.The 3 main sources that most sellers use for size are tax roll, appraiser, or builder's plan. 

Lean and quick, no extra mouths that have to be fed.While you save and learn, drive for dollars (tired plexes are my favorite) and talk to garage sale holders and ask if they're planning to move.  40% or so are future sellers or tenants leaving.