Its not safe to hold on to cash right now that much is a given, the question is less whether to buy and more what and where to buy? 

Real estate is the wisest way to relatively safe, convenient, and secure venture.

My wife and I were able to use the equity in our first home to cover the 20% required for a conventional loan; will most likely be your best bet if your gf has the equity for it. 

., you bet you can.

It is safe and quiet.

Your best bet will be local facebook groups (search the city and use key words like: XYZ City in Washington/Arizona Real Estate Group or Real Estate Investors). 

@Milton Carrillo your best bet is going to be to go to the city and speak with someone in the Building Department or Planning Department. 

If the PM is listing through AirBNB/VRBO you'd still pay those fees on bookings through those sites.In fact, I would bet a lot of PM companies calculate gross revenue before those fees are taken out, so they're actually charging you their 15-30% management fee on the VRBO/Airbnb fees you're paying, effectively INCREASING the Airbnb/vrbo fees, not lowering them. 

Suggestion from our local real estate group- safe investment, numbers worked.

I would say your best bet is just sitting down and seeing if they know their stuff.