I would say, especially in today's market where prices are sky high, if you can find a property that lets you refi out all of your initial investment and still keep a healthy cash flow, including adequate reserves, while rented, you are doing quite well.  

 $1k for one day is a healthy check for an already vacant space.  

That's a healthy indicator that local infrastructure, CoL, and future opinion are in view positively by the local population. 

I figure in 6 months, I will be a better borrowing candidate as my debt to income ratio will be back to a healthy level.

Not just to protect your property but to teach tenants how to keep themselves healthy/clean.

Perhaps its just because I'm still young single, and healthy, that I think that makes sense.  

When the trucks came in we didn't have a fork lift so one person was in the 18 wheeler and the other person was throwing the pumpkins, watermelons, wheat straw, pine straw, bags of potting soil, plants, crates off food at you.

In this market I can actually still cashflow and even hit a 7 or 8 % cap while living in one room if I find the right deals.I have a healthy cash position and feel like I'm ready to make this move into my first property but I am having financing issues.

You better Google that and do some reading if you prefer to live a long healthy life.You can sign the online petition here (I just did):http://www.ftcldf.org/petitions/pnum1061.php

These people were tenants from hell: they broke doors, punched holes in the walls, soiled brand new carpets, etc.