Also, if you can afford it, work with someone to help with the set up the system right the first time.

@Tyler Smerz - If you can qualify for a conventional loan and can afford the extra 1.5% down payment, I'd recommend going that route over FHA so that you can save yourself some money on the Mortgage insurance cost.

Our affordable (livable) housing is almost non-existent now.

There are many sites which I know of in which you can pay either a per list fee, or a subscription fee, to have access to motivated seller lists.My question is does anyone have any recommendations for ways to obtain these lists that may be more affordable?

But I can't do that since I have a family with kids going to school and can't afford to move every year.

Think about what you can afford, and what you are good at managing.  

They can act as your boots on the ground and check on the property when they’re cleaning and tell you when you’re running low on supplies, furniture is broken, etc.

If you build a business and have multiple houses to stage you might consider buying your own furniture and moving it from house to house. 

The properties are so much more affordable related to other cities of the same size. 

Building furniture in the detached garage and short-term rentals.