I have an STR in Niagara Falls and it does pretty well based on the purchase price. 

I have seen a few people mention that house hacking is possible as well but tricky to find a property that can support that approach.

It costs roughly $100/mo but is well worth the expense.  

My client's have been happy with the draw process and response times as well.

I think tax benefits should be secondary to buying something that would work well as a STR.I would recommend you consult a tax professional to see what possible tax benefits you could receive from buying this STR.

If I were you I'd send a quick message to your current lender as well.

Despite the challenges, the project was a success, proving that well-planned investments can lead to significant profits.

As long as the furniture is comfortable and fits your market, it should work well.

Take advantage of LSU's resources as well.

I think you have the basics of meeting partners and people to work with in your local market and seem to be well on the way with two deals going already so big congrats there!