But now trying am struggling to find a good deal.Primarily thinking of Cleveland, Austin and Peoria.Any recommendations if this looks like a good place to start?

Once the roots find that water source, they go all out! 

The drawback I find with Craig's List  is that it has a limited number of editions in any given state, and they revolve around the large cities. 

So far, I'm leaning towards an underground pool since it can be used all year round, but if I find a property that has room for both, then I may try to incorporate both amenities since families and the older crowd are my preferred avatar.

I searched through BiggerPockets "Find Markets" tab and the blogs but haven't found any info yet.

I will let you know when I find one

I am trying to find a group locally to avoid a long drive and the traffic. 

They always need units painted or cleaned or fixed and always have hard time finding people. 

Seller financing seems like a viable option, but how do I go about finding these kinds of opportunities?

You'd be able to find a core four in all the areas.