I'm a full time web developer and have a background in design, and I've done two full live-in renovations (currently living in the 2nd).

I'm missing out on over $1k per month by not turning the units over, and the property is not an attractive investment to me as the cashflow currently stands. 

Just realize that GC's must work today to earn today's income which isn't the passive lifestyle that attracts people to real estate investing.

Also, I don't know about your market but with how fast homes are selling here a FHA offer is not very attractive to sellers because the property condition requirements are so stringent and they don't want to deal with headaches when they have 10 other offers.Feel free to reach out with any questions, I know if I had someone with experience to talk to when I first started I'd be much further along than I am now.

The home sale contingency is strongest when your buyer's home is already under contract and you make all other terms attractive.  

"  :)  If housing assistance, such as Section 8 is designed to help tenants, why not give them the funds directly?

I had the idea recently of building a small modular cabin of modern design to use as a str in the colorado mountains.

This is a tax status designation, and you need to have a proven credible log showing a minimum of 750 hour of ACTIVE management of properties.

Meaning, you can get a real estate broker to be the designated agent/broker for the business but you do in fact need someone with this (more than likely, just with your states laws)So, first things first, decide if you are going to manage properties for other people legally or not. 

@Michael Carges that’s a great area and attracting a lot of the new transplants.