Appreciate your quick responses!

So I am looking to plan for those fluctuations as much as possible to make sure we will be very safe from a cash standpoint all through the first year.

Get what you can realize the goal is walk away quickly even with a small loss.

In today's economy it's better to either own apartment complexes (which don't require any experience) , Fix and Flips, or Quick Flips.I do believe that real estate property ownership is a game of quantities and how many offers you make will effect your success. 

Lot more lengthy to type out it happens pretty fluid/quickly.

I would generally disregard the “rules” locally except for very quick and crude calculations.

Much of the following depends on your capabilities and cash position, but I've always given people the advice to buy their first home with a 'safe' outlook with regards to appreciation, and schools.I don't know where you are at in life - if you've already made your first purchase, etc - but so far so good on those that have taken my advice.I think later on in life, if someone so desires and/or has the knack, is when it's appropriate to get into what a lot of folks on these forums do - the more aggressive projects where there's more money to be made.This is a round about answer but yes it's possible. 

It's a shame because he came highly recommend but I need results quickly.

I'd imagine the hassle/logging of your guests by the front gate going to put a damper on that.Corporate looks like it'd work though and quick google search gives some results.... 

That way you have some money coming in at all times.If you had a contractor that had a large enough crew and gave you a discount for doing both units quickly and at same time then it would be worth wild to just get them both turned around as fast as possible and rented at market rents.I self manage all my properties.