All that money you're not spending on the mortgage is money that should be saved to buy the next property and it will start adding up quickly due to the decrease in expenses (Put this money into safe short term investments while it builds up so that when you're ready to go its there and theres most likely not going to be a loss..

If you want less stress otherwise you could run into evictions. 

So I’m wondering if I should just buy a cheaper home with the same amount of bedrooms but save myself the stress and risk of a renovation that I can’t cash in on quickly.

That seems to have helped a bit, there seems to be a decrease in the number we receive, but we're going to keep working at it and reminding the tenants.$150 per violation adds up, especially when you can literally prove the trash was out where it was supposed to be and on time. 

Intro into investing and learn how to become a landlord while decreasing my living expenses.

I then compare comps and rental stats based my existing rentals (rentometer is ok but use the median value and stress test it).

Additionally, submit your favorite deals (or craziest, wildest, or most stressful deals!)

Important to stress: postpones taxes. 

Same is true with getting the wrong property and then figuring out what you are going to do with that property.The challenge is that this could actually be taking you further away from you goal when you purchase the wrong house, with the wrong type of money.My suggestion is learn and educate yourself first, make sure you know very clear what your end goal is and then create the strategy to reach that goal and select what tactic you will use.Then a lot of these other things you are stressed about will fall into place and not seem as daunting.

Tenants can definitely try your patience and can be very stressful at times.