Looking for STR within 3 hours of DC Metro area

[Ernest Fox]

For 2024, I will have a significantly higher W-2 income (600k) due to unplanned stock option income (company I work for was purchased). Thanks to plenty of smart people here on BiggerPockets, I have learned that it may be possible to offset a portion of this unexpected higher W-2 income with the purchase and "active management" of a STR. (Yes I know there are other restrictions/conditions.)

In the past, I have toyed with the idea of a vacation/rental property in Ocean City, MD, Rehoboth/Bethany/Dewy, DE, and/or the Deep Creek Lake, MD area (I like the idea of being within 3 hours of the rental property in case something goes horrible wrong and I need to travel to the property).  This years higher than normal W-2 income coupled with the idea of being able to save a few bucks on tax has me giving more serious consideration to this idea.  So a couple of questions:

I think I'm targeting something in the 350-450k range, which means I'm probably looking at a condo. With about 100k to put down, I don't think I can be anywhere close to cash flow break even (at least not in any market that is driving distance from the Metro DC area). At this price point, would a cost segregation study even make sense to do on a condo so that I could take advantage of accelerated depreciation? Does STR self management make sense (from a tax offset for W2 income) without accelerated depreciation? I guess maybe, I could put less money down, so I could show a greater loss for this year?

I have never managed any type of rental property before, but I think I will be OK with self managing (not saying that it won't be a headache, but I think I can get through it).

I am open to other ideas and markets that are within about 3 hours of the Metro/DC area.  The goal is to find a way to offset some of the unexpected W-2 income and pick up of a vacation/rental property at the same time.