Hire a college students/or architect from other countries who can do 3d rendering at a very affordable rate (I pay $200 for 4 first time super realistic 3D renderings of the exterior, repeats are even cheaper) and do a number of elevation studies before you down select your exterior paint and finishes.  

It just feels like there’s quite a bit to consider…my salary and time.

Because the property tax as a non-owner occupied property is about 3-4 times the amount of a owner occupied property.  

Westside can be rough especially for a first-time investor.

Yep, been doing it full time since 2018ish.

Two of the kitchen cabinets were also cut in half.

I would start with those that have been around a long time and are larger in size.

If so, is that recommended for a first-time buyer?  

I found someone in my area with a decent amount of experience in real estate who advised me to first purchase a single family home of my own (starter home) then proceed to use that as my first rent house in a few years time.

and i know that that there’s risk involved, so ill always be prepared for things not going according to plan. and i think starting small and gaining knowledge and experience over time is key.