Don't do a HELOC for long term just to have the tenant pay it off, that loses the advantages of HELOCs -fast cash, available any time, but floating/higher interest rates- Also, most won't give you a HELOC on a non-owner-occupied home.

Just know you could lose money if the market tanks between now and then. 

The sale price is such that we could sell in some weeks and not lose any of our investment in the purchase. 

Just to add...I'm fixing/flip in highly competitive Tampa Bay(Pasco/Pinellas) and one thing I've done that has shed light on what's happening when losing offers is that I've been keeping track of of each property from my offer to the actual sale.

I also know that I am in a tenant-friendly state and city, and even if I am in the right to charge them, I might still lose if they pursue it.

I’m losing my mind.

u will lose time  your inspection cost and other dollars just to save 6k which wont mean anything over a 20 year hold right ?

I was losing hope in finding a property and I did not want to own a multi or single family due to the cost of maintaining.

I want to hold it as a full rental after those two years and then get another property, starting the process over again.So my main question is how do I search and find a good investment property, what numbers to crunch and look at, which will then tell me whether this property will be a good investment in the long run or whether I will end up earning very little or losing money when I turn it into a full rental?

When people lose confidence in the economy or loose their jobs, it has an immediate effect on home sales.