It's possible to buy property in Germany with as little as 5-10% down, making it an attractive option for service members and civilian government employees stationed there or planning to settle.

So this involves hiring an architect draw up plans ($1,000 - 3,000 if I had to guess).  

I’m planning to start by buying in Buffalo to gain experience and learn the ropes.

The question is mostly a personal financial planning question and it depends on your preference and what balance of risk and access you'd like and would be comfortable with.

Before purchasing a rental property carefully evaluate the appreciation potential.

I would be very careful, especially not having any sort of licensing and promoting these products on a public forum.  

It’s exciting to hear about your plans to dive into this field, and Chicago is a fantastic market to explore once you move there.It sounds like you’re on the right track with your interest in House Hacking, Mid-Term Rentals, Short-Term Rentals, and the BRRRR strategy.

I'm planning on flying over, just trying to gather info right now and trying to decide where to start.Have a great day!

All this to say they are getting serious about permitting so if you are planning to invest in San Antonio in the short term rental space, MAKE SURE to check that the property is eligible for a short term rental permit given the density limits above and have a Realtor experienced with the San Antonio permitting requirements and rules. 

Ask to see the approved final site plan for the first phase.