What about rate and term refinancing?

Highlight the “family-friendly” perks, like extra beds, pet policies, and flexible terms.

If you find someone giving you confused looks, seek a mortgage broker that helps investors.I'm not so sure how they would calculate income from short-term rentals.  

Have contracts or covenants that keep newer homes there and keeping yards clean.  

It’s worth exploring Tacoma if you’re open to expanding your search radius, as it’s a growing market with solid upside potential.Your long-term goal of transitioning to buy-and-hold investments is a great way to generate passive income and build long-term wealth.

Be mindful of short-term capital gains tax, as profits from flips held for less than a year are taxed as ordinary income, and frequent flipping may result in self-employment taxes.While profits from flips do not qualify for 1031 exchanges (since flips are considered inventory, not investment properties), you can minimize your tax burden by deducting allowable expenses like renovation costs, loan interest, and holding expenses.If you're considering diversifying into rentals, explore opportunities to benefit from long-term tax advantages such as depreciation and lower long-term capital gains rates.

Short-term rentals are becoming oversaturated in certain markets plus anti-STR legislation is resulting in some of those properties also converting to long-term rentals.You already have the operations experience by self-managing.

Our goal is to have a short term rental business and build it over the next several years.

@Matt PowersFrom my experience, deciding between short-term rentals (STRs) and long-term rentals (LTRs) depends on the market.

Not only will lenders be effected, but borrower credit, business loans, inventory, and auto credit will suffer when those effected have to relocate, find long term replacement housing and their livelihoods and income are destroyed.