Hi all,I am new to the online community but have been listening to bigger pockets podcasts for years.

Be very careful who you take advice from online, you should get involved with a local attorney and a local realtor.

In online forums, the danger I've experienced is the "national" effect. 

In my opinion, an in person meetup > an online connection.You may want to consider making a connection here and meeting up for coffee or attending a real estate networking event.Best of luck!

Our STR/MTR portfolio typically sees around 80% occupancy, and I’ve noticed that the online travel booking sites often push properties with consistently great guest experiences.

Consider connecting with local REI meetups, hospitality groups, or even online forums like this one to find like-minded investors.You could also pitch your successful track record to potential equity partners.

I picked her exactly because she had a good social and online footprint!!

After some research online, I am reading that the cost per square foot on a gut renovation of this nature in Stamford CT is anywhere from $150-$350, which is ultimately not very helpful, because at $150 per sq ft, this is a very appealing project with a total profit of ~$175K (46% ROI) and at $350 per sq ft, it very much isn't, because it would be a net loss of 83K (haha).QUESTIONS:What can I do refine my estimate a bit given that I am not allowed to a formal inspection on the property? 

I also recommend a bank that has local branch that you can go into vs having it 100% online.

I offer an online payment portal to submit rent payments via ACH or CC - they "couldn't figure out how to use it" so I set us up to accept Zelle payments.