As long as you like your job and/or industry and could do it for the next 15 years, what you are doing would work perfect for your plan.As you gain experience, maybe you can move into more units per purchase or start to BRRRR.

, The builder told me that as long as my HELOC is zero balance on closing that will be okay, but I did not ask them if it will drastically lower my credit in case they will pull again for the third time with the builder. 

We bought ourselves a furnished house with a giant pool, and also opened up a Short Term Rental.  

Renting short term or long term will have some bearing on it but this isn't too far fetched to find a lender for this sort of thing.A small, local lender will be your HIGHEST probability of success when trying to find investor friendly lenders on investment properties.

Things you want to consider would be what your long-term plans are with this property.

so - what are the ages of those items, how much will they cost to replace, and how long will they last? 

Now, for long term rents I did not/would not pick it if the home is in Shaker Heights.

There is a lot of controversy on what bacteria and virus lives on fabrics and for how long.

Looking to buy a SFH in one of these counties, with the intent to convert a basement into an ADU and rent it out (short or long term) - and live in the main unit as owner-occupied.

My primary goal is long term appreciation and I'll accept a property that breaks even on cash flow.