I want to begin my journey by flipping SFR homes and move into buy and hold investments later down the road.

I would get it checked.You could have them turn oven on 350 and a few minutes later text you a picture inside of oven.

As of Jan 2022 (12 months later), I am considering moving back home to CA and renting out my primary residence in AZ and turning it into an investment/income producing property.

Three months later the heat exchanger exploded.

With school as the primary focus, those two options allow you to be involved in real estate, without having to say oversee a rehab project or manage a STR/LTR (short term/long term rental).There will be plenty of time for all of this of course, but studying (inside school and out), gaining the knowledge base and networking will give you all the fire power you need later on to close deals and accomplish your goals!

Fast forward 6-7 years later, and that property is now worth more than double what we purchased it for. 

If you show a consideration for their time, value, and expertise along the lines of "hey X, I know your time is valuable and I would love to learn from you and see if we can work together later. 

I filled it with tenants, showed leases of up to $3,600/month and got it reappraised at $270k and then refinanced a month later.

The tenants recently said they would be voluntary leaving at the end of January, two weeks later they contacted and stated that they were waiting on some money and wanted to try to get square on the rent.

Later, I redid the driveway and landscaping myself.