I prefer including those utilities in the rent.Let's say you have a four-plex on a shared furnace.

And I think one of the WORST ways to go it is "find an agent who also invests" because there going to pump JUST what they do as being "the way", because it's what they do, so now your pigeon holing yourself to "A" persons personal preference.

When taking on a rehab project, do you prefer high-end properties or affordable housing?

Quote from @Robin Simon: Quote from @Chris Seveney: Quote from @John ONeill: Compare and contrast private money loans and hard money loans.Discuss scenarios where each type of loan is most beneficial.Please share experiences and preferences. 

Perhaps focus in on why you haven't been able to strike a deal to buy the preferred asset and strategize what must change to make that a reality. 

I would prefer a loc.

However certain seasoned investors later in life prefer to outsource the work and reap the rewards.

I'm not a huge fan of virtual staging personally, I prefer actual physical staging. 

If you can take out lines of credit on other properties you own, I prefer that to going the hard money/private lender route, because it tends to be significantly cheaper.

Additionally, you can network with other real estate professionals and investors—if they own STRs, they can likely refer you to their CPA.If you prefer not to attend in-person meetups, consider joining local real estate groups online to connect with both tax professionals and investors.