Another caveat: there are a lot of STRs out there that are breaking HOA/local government/state/federal laws or strongly bending the rules, and I'm looking for people who did not do that or who mitigated risk there. 

Mink,I would advise using a Fannie Mae 5% down program to avoid the FHA up front UFMIP finance charge. 

The key IRS provision that governs this is in Section 469, which outlines the passive activity loss limitations.

The government has set it up so that if you use some good accounting strategies you can avoid payment of tax for your life. 

Fellow OH investors,I have a rental property in Lorain county and just received a letter about the lead safe program and that as a landlord they need to conduct an inspection and make the home lead safe.

You can also get a 10% premium discount if you do Breezeway's Safety program.

While I believe anyone can joing CU's (unless they choose to stay private) they could have special considerations, like government employees/servive members where collections are a walk in the park so to speak.

The facebook groups are a great place to find mentor programs and such in your local markets 

Loan programs that utilize AirDNA income projections to qualify can also be utilized for cash out refinances (if not currently operated as an AirBNB) although some lenders have a maximum cash in hand of $500k-$1M typically at a lower loan to Value of 65-75% for investment property vacation rentals. 

The landlord may be planning on making it their 2nd home or any of numerous possibilities that the government removes with any law that changes that.