What are some of the big no no or criteria to avoid or look for as caution (for costly maintance, rehab or management) in properties.

Like I am avoiding condo prop for big mgmt fees and costly insurance.

Also, I...

Better get a property that you can get inspected and have time to do proper title search.  

Have you done a member search on this site @Ross Hewitt III?

If you don’t have to rely on the 401k funds, consider doing a Roth conversion ladder (search mad fientist Roth conversion).

@Shaun MorganShaun,  Some generals numbers for you; 2% rule (search the millions of hits on any search engine), Return on Investment (ROI), Cash on Cash returnCome up with a standard for these any other other number you can calculate.  

If I lived in an apartment in Queens in New York City or in half a duplex in Pacifica, California, would I have a few thousand bucks invested in tools to fix houses and spend my day like today, where I worked on refinishing the oak strip floor of a bedroom and took a break to go to a tenant's house to change out a showerhead?

., and not just because i'm in the industry but because I use the tool myself and have for years.First I'd never argue that a 1031 is right every time. 

  - the best way I've found to determine if there's a market is to go to airbnb / vrbo / homeaway and search for similar properties.

Welcome to BP @Jacen Lehman, I can't help with auido books but if you use the search here at Bigger Pockets maybe you can find some that others recommend.

I am selling this property which was purchased at a tax lien sheriff sale, I signed a contract with one of those contractor guys who buys for cash, but he is not licensed and is just trying to sell it or wholesale it on the MLS, leaving me without any word on the process, The contract said they should have started the process of the Title search and notified me within a 5 business days and notify me within 20 days of any problems with the search, they did not start the search until 15 days from signing the agreement, then i sent an official cancelation he is accusing me of breaching the agreement and want to file a lien on the property for his right to buy??