Look at their marketing strategy.

.🔹 Profit Multiple Ways – You can rent the property for cash flow, sell the option at a profit, or buy it later at a pre-agreed price (often below market value).🔹 Great for Sellers & Investors – Motivated sellers can turn a vacant or hard-to-sell property into income while investors secure future deals without a huge upfront commitment.🔹 Ideal in Any Market – Whether home prices are rising or falling, lease options allow you to lock in today’s price while benefiting from future appreciation.Other creative strategies—like seller financing, subject-to deals, and the BRRRR method—can also open doors, but lease options remain one of the most powerful, low-risk, minimal cash out-of-pocket ways to build a portfolio.

I'm happy to share my experience with this market if you'd like to message me to set-up a call. 

Those states could be nearby in your market area.  

Thus more marketable.  

I usually just google "market name" airbnb or short term regulations.

Have you had an appraisal done recently, or do you have comps to estimate the property's market value?

It sounds like mistakes were made on the properties but I'm also questioning the market (you didn't say where these are). 

You should be able to use departing residence income from the market rent when qualifying for a new primary purchase.

The STR market here has become way more saturated and competitive especially in San Juan.