I would shop around.

Remember there are many options, not just what's available at HD.LVP (luxury vinyl plank) and LVT (luxury vinyl tile) brands you may come across: Achim, Aquarius, Armstrong, BeaulieuBliss, Burke, Congoleum, DecoratorsChoice, DesignersImage, Devine, Elite Click, CrownLake, Forbo, FreeFit, HomeLegend, Karndean, IVC, Mannington, Metroflor, Moduleo, Mohawk, QualityCraft, Shaw, StainMaster, Style Selections, Tarkett, TrafficMaster and others.Here is HD's link for LVT: http://www.homedepot.com/b/Flooring-Vinyl-Flooring...Here's a good link for Lowe's: http://www.lowes.com/Flooring/Vinyl-Flooring/_/N-1...Here is a Menard's link: https://www.menards.com/main/flooring/vinyl-floori...We shop at specialty flooring shops and design stores too.

I know I would NOT invest my Money into a New Investor unless they had, and used, a Team of Professionals to assist and work with them as they get started and re-invested in themselves with some knowledge to enable growth as they go down the Yellow Brick Road.A Management Company can help you learn in a safer environment and, depending on your negotiation skills, can sometimes share the burden of some expenses.Wealthy people use Professionals to protect their wealth which in turn gives them back their Time to do what they do best...find the next deal to get into.

I wanna shop out there, but I don't know the area well. 

You can do this at one shop at www.aoausa.com.  

Would it be safer and less headache to buy my new principle residence before buying the investment property?

I ask because it seems more convenient to have "one stop shopping" by using an attorney for all services.

I think most americans would rather have a high tech job making $90,000/year than working in some small sweat shop sewing sweaters for $2 a day.

They're taking 7% on your mortgage...I say take some back.Your is an interesting idea...I'll noodle on it and shop it around and see if anyone has thoughts.

So if you’re going to record a contract for deed then there’s no advantage for the seller/lender over using a warranty deed - deed of trust so they just use the safer later.