I wouldn't say that people in general like one type over another, but rather people in general cohorts (single, married - no kids, married - with kids, etc.) tend to gravitate towards certain types of properties based on their lifestyles.

Assessing brokers based on their transaction history and success in the market carries more weight than simply focusing on the highest price offered.

I'm based in LA but do this more or less nationwide. 

This would not necessarily be the case, or the spread could go the other way, though such motive could present one reason for conversion.I am not even sure if rent control gets eliminated through a possible condo conversion in most towns in Hudson County - West New York, for  base condominium rent > $1000, is one exception, it seems valuable to determine the others.

Was this attorney based in CA? 

If you run a lending as business, your interest will convert to ordinary income and could be passive based on your involvement.

I have been in touch with a couple US based ones that lend in region.  

Most investors take a look at the available rental units in a particular market,  determine if its a good or bad market based on DOM and either dismiss the market all together or replicate the housing units that are absorbed.

And you do control the outcome based on your deal and Market analysis.A. 

I ended up not even going STR after digging into her projections and finding out they were not realistic and were just based on city-wide data.