Short term leverage inherently increases our risk. 

Are most renters looking for long-term leases, or is there a strong demand for short-term or mid-term stays?

My short term goal(s) in the next few years are to have 4-5 properties (long term), as well as a multi family home.

Perhaps rather calling it a multi-short/mid-term deal.

Generally when sellers say "cash" it really means they do not want to deal with contingencies,  short closing period and/or do not want to deal with needed repairs. 

Short-term stays tend to bring higher revenue, but long-term rentals can provide stability.If the area gets strong tourist traffic, STRs could be a great fit.

I wanted to see if anyone is familiar with or can recommend paid mentorship programs or coaches for small multifamily unit investing (2-4 units).In my research, I’ve found that most mentorship programs or resources I come across are geared toward large syndication apartment building purchases or other types of investments, such as short-term rentals, medium-term rentals, single-family homes, Section 8, or fix-and-flip projects.

If you were to find mid-term rentals, I would suggest filling it up with Short Term Rental bookings in between MTR bookings Vegas has pretty strict STR rules thats why folks go MTR there and the HOAs as well most wont allow them unless its in a condotel type thing.

However, the tax treatment differs between short-term and long-term rentals:Short-Term Rentals (STRs): If you materially participate (work 100+ hours and more than anyone else on the property), you may be able to offset rental deductions against W-2 or other active income, offering greater tax benefits.Long-Term Rentals (LTRs): If your AGI exceeds $100K, your rental losses may be limited, unless you qualify as a Real Estate Professional (REPS).If you plan to expand your rental portfolio, consider an LLC later for liability protection and easier management.

Still under injunctions, but it is likely to be overturned, and you will have a short window to file.