That said, if you can comfortably handle the additional down payment and monthly payment consequences of a higher purchase price (and the lenders agree), and you have a few different good options with the property then it could be a wise investment.By a few good options . . . you want to have some exit strategy other than STR that will work in case the something happens to make STR uncouth in your area. 

Thorough vetting is absolutely essential in private lending to mitigate risks and protect your investment.Here are a few additional tips to enhance your due diligence process-Assess Their Exit Strategy: Whether it’s a flip, rental refi, or sale, make sure their exit strategy is realistic and aligns with market conditions.

I successfully run 1 STR and have a 2nd that an inherited PM handles.I have Vrbo and Airbnb they will sync with each other with no external software.I set pricing easily by using the built in tools that Vrbo provides.Automated messages are built into both platforms.Vrbo keeps my calendar slammed, but I take direct bookings as needed, simple to do.I have no additional 3rd party fees to very sucessfuly run and manage my property needing only a a few minutes per week.

Something else to consider is that once these properties are paid off, you could cross collateralize to purchase additional properties that fit your buy box so that you may not need to bring cash to the table for a down payment.

Additionally, since you need to replace your vehicle soon, you should consider how that $30k purchase fits into your overall budget.Take a close look at the current housing market in Orlando, where prices are around $400k for decent homes.

A previous Client and employer of mine came to me wanting to unload a property.

An additional goal with the LLC is to hopefully write off some time and miles I put in on these properties as I self manage and repair.

@Renay Reese my employer doesn’t want us to carry but, I do because I work near the airport and people are crazy around here...

Read a few booksz like Brandon Turner's, and you will see how your VA loan and a few time tested strategies can be employed.

If the purchase price is 70% of the home's final sale price, what portion of the additional 30% is the $ spent on the flip and what portion is the average net gain?