Quote from @Andrew Lawlor: I've been actively investing in short-term rental properties for the past three years, managing one live property and another that will go live in two months.

I was forced to buy my first house because my roommate moved out and I couldn't afford to live alone.

We focus on layouts that feel spacious but still define distinct areas for living, dining, and entertaining.Flow is Everything: A home’s design should feel seamless.

Even if one tenant is responsible for rent payments, the others will live there and impact your liability as a landlord.Accountability:Requiring all adults to apply and sign the lease holds everyone legally responsible for the terms.

I lived in Houston for a dozen years (moved last summer) and really wanted to make an STR work, but I just couldn't get there.

Are you looking to live in one unit and rent the others? 

I'd buy where you live (within an hour or so) for your 1st investment!

No, not places you heard people want to live, or were told, or think, no-no-no, where you KNOW people want to live. 

I live and invest in Milwaukee since 2007, so probably a little bias here, but we are set up very well for future growth. 

I would pull a FHA loan for $665,000 and live in one side and rent the other side out to a family member for $2,000 a month.