You will also have the ability to refinance the new purchase easily with a delayed purchase refinance (You can price these as a rate and term refinance), if you plan on only refinancing the purchase price + cost of improvements. 

They're relatively inexpensive and will give you the background in real estate concepts that will speed up your ability to intake knowledge specific to tax liens and deeds. 

I'm only building rental cabins which is a higher price point due to their ability to produce income. 

Just be aware that it can kill the tax benefits of your STR.To keep your ability to deduct STR losses, you cannot use the property for "personal purposes" for more than 14 days a year.

This is appealing for short-to-medium term gains, especially if you’re confident in your ability to refinance or sell in 15 years.

And yes, non-tax considerations matter as well, such as your ability to borrow money or your student loans.

The manager's ability to do actual marketing or help in that department outside of just posting is a problem owners don't know they have.

As well as a better ability to find properties? 

What's most impactful about truly learning neighborhoods is the ability to identify a "C" neighborhood that has the potential or is actively becoming a "B" neighborhood.

The fact that the seller is offering owner financing for their own tax purposes doesn't affect your ability to claim these benefits.