My tenants forgot to mention the running toilets at the time.

For seniors age 65 and older the exemption is on the first $150,000.  

I will contact all of you as I get to the locations I mentioned and hopefully arrange a meet up and get a chance to speak to all of you! 

Case in point: I had four people last year that tried applying for the 4bed/3bath home mentioned above.

That is a tough one to answer, especially not knowing your age but I will assume you are in your mid-twentys. 

CPA also mentions investor pays ordinary income rates versus capital gains rates on his tax return, if simply handing him a check with 1098 & 1099 forms. 

Agree with @Curt Davis you took out most creative financing options when you mentioned that it would be owner occupied 

I forgot to mention she is also my real estatle agent.

I would also look for partners or as others have mentioned, network with syndication companies and invest with a few of them. 

(See Idaho Code 63-1005 – One-year possession under tax deed conclusive as to regularity of proceedings.)That makes it sound like you have to hold on to the QCD for a year to clear up any potential issues with it, but I haven't seen an indication of that anywhere else - including Idaho Code 63-1005 mentioned there.