From my experience working with over 400 investors, I’d recommend starting with house hacking—ideally a fourplex if you find a good deal, but a duplex works too.

I always recommend it as a good place to start.

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

Success in real estate requires courage, perseverance, and the willingness to take calculated risks.Internalize these principles and apply them in your real estate endeavors, and you will be on your path to success.

I’d appreciate any insights, lessons learned, or recommendations from those who have gone through this process.

Fix and Flips require Money(and or atleast reputation).If you are in a bad financial situation, fix and flips may not be possible for you(especially if you have no experience).

Virtually all 5+ units in Reno where the buyer is using bank financing will require 50+% down.

I don't know anything about their policyholder experience.However, every homeowners policy I've ever seen, even with a "home sharing" endorsement or rider, requires some owner use of the property. 

Concepts like sub-to agreements or leasing to STR operators sound appealing but require careful consideration of the risks involved.

Flat out, I realize we're friends/family, but I need this lease in place to comply with laws that require things in writing and for my protection should there ever be issues.