My goal is to use this 15K (or as much as possible) towards a home I would travel back and forth from while perhaps renting out the other room(s).Thank you!

You would have to travel a few hours out to get into lower priced properties.

Yes I will send a private note later when I'm settled - I'm traveling in Japan at the moment.

I bet you will have many years of fun.A homeowner should always strive to set the expectations and then when the traveler arrives, exceed their expectations. 

Constructing a small vacation rental at the site is a possibility we are beginning to investigate since it seems to match what we already do travel-wise and rental occupancy rates look favorable to property owners given the right circumstances.We already own a single family rental in our hometown that has been productive for us over 15 years, but the nature of a vacation rental is a different animal altogether.  

My mother in law has been using Airbnb for the last several months to rent out her very nice travel trailer.

My day job has me busy too, I'll be away from Buffalo on travel all next week.

I travel out to Denver every so often due to work and was shocked to see how high the real estate prices have gotten there over just the last few years!

You might put a paper notice up on a bulletin board at the hospital, I think they have some traveling nurses who want housing for 6 month periods.

There are notaries that can travel to the penitentiary btw.