I would look at other people's STR photos for ideas or consult a designer.We bought stuff from Lazyboy and they had a designer on staff to help us pick out stuff.

To avoid going through the same poor experience, keep reading.Even if someone gives you a referral here, do NOT make the mistake of assuming that the PMC will meet your expectations, just because they met the expectations of the referral source.In our experience, the #1 mistake owners make when selecting a Property Management Company (PMC) is ASSUMING instead of CONFIRMING.It's often a case of not doing enough research, as they don't know what they don't know!

The information shared is based on my experience and industry knowledge and should not be considered legal, tax, or financial advice.

They are going to finance you based on your loan to value, experience, and liquidity. 

It's a learning experience for certain.

There's a lot of other things to consider here but I'll go through your list and make some suggestions based on 10 years of investing across various asset classes - single family, multifamily, industrial, storage, retail, office, etc. and I've had experience with section 8 housing, BRRRR, flips, etc.Purchasing rental properties?

Starting with an owner-occupied duplex is a smart way to build equity and gain experience.

how much experience do you have?  

What has been your experience with LENDBASE? 

I would love to hear from others doing flix and flip in NYC on their experience on doing this business.