House hacking is an excellent strategy, especially with the potential to use an FHA loan to secure a property with a low down payment. 

@Lillian Pintaro,Birmingham’s a lucrative market—it’s been my stomping ground for nearly 20 years, and you can find some excellent deals if you know what you’re after and dive deep by zip code, neighborhood, and city block.For what it’s worth, we manage 2,000+ units (many for out-of-state investors) mostly in the north and west part of town—so think suburbs outside the city limits like Graysville (35073), Adamsville (35005), Mount Olive (35117), Center Point (35215), and the like.Since you’re also open to the surrounding areas, places like Odenville (to the east) and Tuscaloosa (to the southwest) could be worth checking out.

Rentvine's excellent customer service spoils me, and I can't imagine using software with lousy customer service. 

Both are excellent.  

@Eric Hrlbock Excellent !

They are excellent at what they do.

Still, we appreciate you and the entire REI team for your support and excellent service.  

Evictions are an excellent way to take a decent investment and make it a nightmare. 

Crossing the lines may not provide proper liability protection.Personally, I just kept my SF rentals in my name and got excellent insurance coverage, $500K per property plus a $2M umbrella.

Hi Jon from Boyertown, PA-You and your fiancé are interested in buying your first short-term rental and wonder profitable areas to purchase with a budget up to $500,000.I would look at places along the west coast of Michigan, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and near Ann Arbor, MI.It is important to understand the local STR regulations in each community and partner with a property management company that can help your navigate that and manage it well for an excellent guest experience.Don't forget to look into bonus depreciation and doing a cost segregation study to increase the tax benefits of ownership and if you "materially participate" in the management of the property per IRS guidelines it can offset active W-2 income which most real estate cannot.To Your Success!