I like Dayton, Ohio.

Looking up the flopper, I came across this site so I guess it's a blessing in disguise.I think if you made it here, you're far enough in REI to know what to weed out and that's likely syndications(for now).

When it comes to qualifying for a loan like verifying your income, credit score, debt to in come ratio etc, will it help to say that I receive additional income from my househack tenants aside from my w2?

Would like to pick your brains and see what kind of advise I could get , anything and everything would be appreciated.

I would like to set myself up to start investing in real estate, but currently I don’t even own a primary.

Looks like more complicated circumstance than I expected.

I love loans like this. 

Looks like the Carls are the experts in self-managing in smoky mountains :)

Like @Jeremy Holden said above, sub2 could be a good option for you, he's a great resource to lean on in this market as well.

Curb appeal, neighborhood, etc.If you have a quality agent, they should point out potential problems like flooding, cracked foundations or walls, the neighbor's dead lawn, etc.