One big thing to keep in mind is that Daytona Beach itself is not very STR friendly.

It’s great to hear your perspective on appreciation versus cash flow—it’s something I’ll keep in mind as I refine my strategy.You mentioned local meetups in Northern New Jersey—do you (or anyone here) know of any good ones closer to Somerset or Middlesex counties?

Keep in mind, you are NOT in charge!  

Pretty much everything I have seen and read is:Find out the sellers motivation/problem and speak to solving that issue.Give an offer but explain how you got your numbers.Other than that, it seems pretty limited for negotiating information. 

Do you mind sharing the benefits of using a hard money loan as opposed to private money?

To maximize the number of transactions you’re involved in you will need to:Be Top of Mind when they think about moving - which requires consistent reminders.Be seen as an Expert – which requires a consistent message and Evidence of Success storiesGain their Trust – which requires communicating integritySo, start out by listing everyone you know in an Excel spreadsheet.

It really depends how motivated you are.

@Andrew Davis Great minds think alike. 

Define your motives, and run with it. 

If you don't mind my asking, how did you find the deal to begin with, and did you have some hint that owner financing might be on the table from the get-go?