School boards, especially in more urban districts are very aggressive looking for tax dollars.  

I work as a Remote Software Developer (even before the pandemic) for a company in Ohio and make a decent salary of $90k + bonus.

Then as I learn more in purchasing Notes and setup investing on my own, I can be more aggressive in getting more Notes individually. 

I know REI printmail and they do a pretty good job.Have you had a decent call-back rate at least?

I have considered keeping and renting out our home but the ROI just isn’t as aggressive as the possibility’s with STRs.

Follow your contract’s language regarding their loan contingency and cancel the contract as soon as you can……or demand a decent non refundable deposit and hang around. 

These two paths will create very different strategies, and how aggressive you need to be!

I don't have the best of credit right now but have a decent amount of equity in the property.

I've been looking at loopnet for I think about 30 years and never found a decent property to purchase.If you can, never purchase less than a 4-plex since your profit is almost exponential when you increase the rents and the rent increases increase the value of the property.

If you do that but look for a decent option, not a perfect retail type purchase, I'm willing to bet you can make a great step in the right direction.