Most of the investors I know have never read a real estate book or listened to a podcast. 

But in the end/exit , the deal tends to be more important.Sanjay, this is a phrase I'm often repeating on podcasts, in my book, and here in the forums:A good sponsor can deliver the best possible outcome in the face of adversity, and a bad sponsor can screw up a perfectly good real estate deal.  

If anyone has any old or used pitch books.

Guests treat those kinds of bookings differently than a STR vacation home.They are used to being able to cancel the booking 24 hours in advance and all sorts of other things that STRs like ours can't really accommodate.

They generally let you as long as you haven't had 3 bookings and your listing is less than 90 days old.  

If I can get 2 different renters in before Jan 1 2025-is still possible by obviously getting a cost seg.Also, would all of the house hunting, going out to see properties, research (calling city for license/map searching) and buying the furnishings count toward the 1 of 7 qualifications IRS demands in addition to the 2 Airbnb bookings-preparing home, cleaning, set up etc?

Start with BiggerPockets Ultimate Beginners Guide (free).

One challenge about short term rentals is that they are not always booked and initially getting those bookings to a minute, people were more hesitant since we didn't have the super host and premier rating.

Start with BiggerPockets Ultimate Beginners Guide (free).

They are packed with experienced and new investors and are the best way to get the confidence in real life to add to books and podcasts and these forums.