Even if you were to get properties at auction, you have to demonstrate that you have the funds to close and not just looking to make some quick money by flipping the contract to someone else. 

Account Closed you just joined BP a few days ago, and not sure about your post.Where are you getting your info that Brightmoor & Cody-Rouge are good Neighborhoods to invest in?

I’m sure people who own multiple STRs have all the tasks memorized on what do prior to closing and post closing and before going live. 

Now with that being said, it is nowhere close to San Francisco and other places that are performing poorly, but it's good either. 

There are some lenders who will but they want to be in on structuring it from origination and closing from the get go.

I owe $454k on the mortgage and after realtor fees/closing costs, i could net $200k with no capital gains tax. 

Keep it close to home until you have experience. 

If it's a certain city where I'm getting a job then I would look closely into the market.

However I ended up refinancing it because I wanted to buy something else and now it cash flows about $350/month which is close to my average/door.

I sell the entire Emerald and Forgotten Coasts, or as I like to say, "between the Colas" (Pensacola and Apalachicola).  99.9% of my clients buy remotely, and many of them don't come in person, even for closing.