Enough folks have held on for the last two years in anticipation of rates being cut in half.

Learning how to get direct to seller houses and great deals (cutting out middle men) is the #1 skill. 

Like maybe cut a deal with the city for affordable housing if they own any lots and want to get rid of them.   

I had to spend time cutting some of the metal strike plate so it wouldn't touch it at all. 

Ideally, I want more booking through Furnished Finder (to cut down on AirBnb fees), as well as direct from insurance providers, relocation specialists, etc.

I do that as well. try real estate land development entitlement or getting involved in ground up new construction on infill lots as a partner. the returns are higher than all of these. all cash IRRs are 40%+ to the partners we work with in columbus and levered returns are greater than 100% cash on cash return. that's with us making our cut as well. 

I saw a local investor post a few of his places up for sale - they were bought at a high price, fixed up extremely nice - so I'm guessing the LTR numbers wouldn't cut it. 

But generate a nice windfall that is has a large tax-free component.1.

So you too need to develop some reserve accounts - one for repairs, and also one for property taxes and property insurance payments - which are big expenses that are due once a year, but your seller will likely not collect like a bank might escrow for you.Know that seller financing gives you lots of options to negotiate your deal - but that cuts both ways.  

I don't know any private lenders and hard money makes me nervous since I'm a buy and hold guy and the payback isn't as cut and dry as it is on a fix and flip.