I wouldn't even broach the pet topic as it will be nothing but a mess.

If your local market is very active and homes are selling fast, you may be able to get by with doing less.Your Home’s Condition: If your home is vacant or has a unique layout, using a professional stager who can bring in the right furniture and accessories may help buyers truly visualize its full potential.Your Budget: Talk to your agent to get an idea of staging costs in your area, as it can be the difference between your house selling and sitting.

I'm excluding new multifamily style buildings - I think this is actually a great idea.

What makes you think starting in Section 8 is a good idea?

Multifamily properties can be a great way to build wealth, but only if they align with your risk tolerance and lifestyle.Hearing from others who’ve been in similar situations might also provide reassurance and ideas.

Any idea of lead times? 

Well, others won't want to either.You get the idea.

Would love to connect with local RE agents and have an idea of the market situation in SA.

We like the short-term rental idea because we could stay at the property ourselves when we want - summer break, spring/winter breaks, etc.Our budget will be right around $1M or less ideally, and we would like a short distance to the ocean.How likely is it that we could find a property as described above and have it cover or come close to covering the mortgage? 

Again, the BiggerPockets store has some books on this topic, or you can learn about it by watching podcasts, reading blogs, and interacting on the forum.