I won't rule out any option other than DST's as in a perfect world I would do both for diversity and a little more liquidity. 

As a general rule, many landlords raise rent 3-5% per year, which is a more gradual and manageable increase. 

HOA's can be a negative so be sure to check the HOA regulations to see if they have any rules around 30+ day stays.

One of two adjacent identical duplexes.

Looking into the STR market, i would suggest a couple things to include into your property search. 1) the STR market is very saturated here so look for something unique or offer unique amenities to your guests, this will help your property stand out 2) different set of rules for properties located within city limits vs without i.e. outside city limits doesn’t require a permit which the city is cracking down on the amount of STRs on any given street or neighborhood 3) HOA is a big deterrence as a lot of HOAs don’t want any rentals of less than 30 days so an in depth search into covenants and by laws would be doing your due diligence.

You might also want to network with local businesses that may have relocating employees or contractors in need of housing.Local Regulations: Some areas have different rules for mid-term rentals than for long-term or short-term rentals, so make sure you're compliant with local laws.If you're new to mid-term rentals, connecting with investors or property managers already working in this space can be invaluable.

One of two adjacent identical duplexes.

And have you checked the 2/3/10 rule?

I've found that most CPA's have different understandings of the rules. 

Hi All - I've seen quite a bit of confusion on the application of the Passive Activity  Loss Rules and Short Term Rentals.