Hi @James Devoe, I wouldn't be optimistic about being able to refinance or sell to someone using a mortgage.

Using a HELOC puts more liability on you while the hard money puts onus on the lender while you leverage their money and maintain as much of yours as possible. 

If you will be using a property manager, and you should, contact property managers the area you are looking.

But I’m also using a PM, only doing LTR, and spend less than an hour a month “working”. 

The best option is to have a direct booking site and collect past guest emails etc using a data collection system like “Emailcollect” and remarket to them making 10-15% extra revenue because you have no booking fees.

By using a email collection service like “Emailcollect” you can inexpensively get past guest data and send out a monthly touch point about something that’s happening locally without it becoming a major drama of making up newsletters. 

To provide some context,I plan on using a conventional loan and put down 5% (That way PMI goes away).  

Now, here is my question...I am using a flat-fee agency, which will charge me 1/2% with a minimum of $2500.

Hello - I am using a property management company to find my next tenant for my own property.

If the cash flow is right even using a manager, would STR be an option you’re interested in hearing more about?