But when I look up listings of properties, what I see is complete Greek to me.

Walls and ceilings completely yellow from smoke.

I work primarily on STRs from a property management standpoint. 

This is why Memphis is such a dead dead dead market along with so many other rust belt zero job growth cities.Learn how to sniff out where employers are moving, opening up new plants, divisions, hiring, then buy rentals in the path of that progress. 

From close of escrow (COE) at purchase to COE at sale, it was 11 months to complete this project.

As a complete newbie at wholesaling, it is fantastic to know what a perspective buyer is looking for.

You're going to approach those completely differently.

Typically for government backed loans it's more challenging to get a "very low offer" approved as they are less flexible for their NET and they use more qualified people to complete valuations.

I was always concerned about having reserves for the house I was buying, but completely disregarded reserves for life outside of RE.

yes- I completely agree .