Given all of these options, which one would the seasoned professionals out there recommend?

I have regular H06 insurance policies on my rentals condos in FL with about $300K rental liability and also carry CBIZ professional/commercial liability insurance policies for about $1M on each.

I’m exploring properties in Saint John and Moncton but I’m open to suggestions if you have other areas that you think warrant investigation.

@Luis Valdez  Why not just hire a professional manager who already handles all that for you?

Right now I’m exploring marketing options and am attending local REIAs and meetups to get to know the local investing community.

The goal would be to earn some extra side cash to save and to network with other real estate professionals.

While we really liked the house, it's location and THINK we could afford to buy, we'd like to have time to explore all of our options. 

., from a "professional lender" that is not a bank: Rates will be higher and less flexibility than with "private money."

From your post it sounds like you had estimates from professional contractors that know how to run their business . 

I have been exploring the topic of financial freedom for a long time, and though I haven't been able to realize that yet I believe it is possible for me.