After doing some initial research, Avail and Innago appears to be very popular Landlord software programs.

My partner's family owns an STR, free and clear, worth between 1.8-2 million in a popular vacation destination.

That’s the best bet.

So I bet you strategize better next time knowing how it all works!

After being on this forum, I'm willing to bet it's not and many on here would not be able to quickly/efficiency clear out or not let it impact their future REI efforts.

Hey @Vincent L SanchezI sorta agree with he 1st one, best bet is to find a partner that will jv with you. and If you'd really like to go for a private money/ hard money loan, that partner must have good experience and credit which can also be included in the loan app.  

I would take that money and do one of a few things with it:1-Look for a JV partner to do a larger deal with2-Keep learning about the market and investing as a whole and sit on the money until you have enough education to leverage it3-Use the money to set up your real estate business and buy leads & marketing betting on yourself may be the best of the optionsAlso tread lightly around the leave NJ advice places like OH, Baltimore, even parts of South Jersey can be money pits where ripping off out of towers is a cottage industry.

. :) Heavy transactions I bet. 

I really see Columbus Ohio as an extremely safe bet for the next 10-20 years.

They work directly with agents and should have a good sense of which areas in town are "most popular" for placing residents and which aren't.