I would use AirDNA and "the enemy method" to see the most successful STRs in the area.

@Maxwell Hinesshort term - BRRRR method, for example.buy with cash or hard money, rehab with HELOC money, then refinance and pay it all back.you never want a HELOC as part of a long term situation.

If by real estate business you’re implying you have little or no money to invest but are contemplating using one of the guru inspired methods (subject to, “wholesaling” , fix n flip) to create cash flow, I’d encourage you to do research on the true success/failure rate of people who engage in these endeavors, the amount of money the successful operators spend monthly on marketing, and the real time commitment and knowledge and experience necessary for success.  

I have my accounts set up in the "Profit First" method by Mike Michalowicz, and so far, things are going great!

The other way is called the Enemy Method, where you go to Airbnb and Vrbo, look at your direct competitors, and figure out how full their calendars are, at what prices, keep a tally of their income, and make a guess as to their yearly gross.

I have found lots of heirs with that simple method.

Your standards can be even tighter based on bedroom size, flexible space, plumbing capacity, and other factors.Check out the Keating Memo from HUD to learn more: https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/DOC_7780.PDF

As your real estate empire grows, consolidating loans into one could offer better terms and streamline management.Overall, your method of buying, living, and then converting properties into rentals is a strong, scalable strategy for building wealth. 

I'm using the ENEMY method, AirDNA, Mashvisor, Revedy, and Pricelabs for comps and analysis.I was able to select the market and community that is marketed as vacation rental homes and most of the houses are set up as STR.

He earned quick money as a wholesaler, and I have a house to keep)Rehab cost: $20k (vinyl floor, interior paint, new dual pane windows, new toilets and bathroom vanities, lights, new landscape, new AC condenser, all done by handyman, spent some extra money for minor plumbing and electric jobs, hydro jet sewer lines, clean up attic (had mice), added some insulationTime spent: 3 weeks (two handymen for the first two weeks, one for the last week)Value after repair: probably around $440kJobs still need to be done later: some dryrots, roof work (it's tile roof, roof doctor quoted me $9k, handyman said probably $5k, home inspector said $15k you can get a new shingle roof.