Short of coming here and meeting face to face with them and come to a couple local REIA events to discuss, for those who are remote I would suggest getting into some of the NE Ohio REIA facebook groups to get some advice from locals.   

Use next 4-6 months to learn by listening, reading and watching how the real estate investment game works.

It’s a game-changer.

I would generally rent to them even if they are a little bit short on rent to income. 

There is really no reason to roll the dice in a craps game.

Quote from @Spencer Elliott: Long story short, land is on loan and I’m purchasing a manufactured lot as a temporary home/future ADU to my final build.

My specialty as an example is working with investors looking to build portfolios of Short Term Rental/ luxury vacation properties all across the US.  90% of my clients use the 10% down second home occupancy loan.  

Many companies have left the state entirely.Insurance is a simple math game. 

With VA loans, you’ve got a huge advantage to get started with little to no money down, and military bases are perfect for long-term or short-term rentals.

Here's my take on the decision:First, let’s look at the pros and cons of paying off your current short-term rental (STR):Paying Off Your STRPros:-You Eliminates your largest fixed expense (the mortgage), which increases your cash flow significantly.