But I’m thinking of getting into STR investment and become more active.I’m a complete newbie to short-term rentals (STRs) and eager to wet my feet in this area.

So long story short I am still hunting down the contract. 

I'd rather keep the sub-3% rate for now and finance other properties conventionally for the short term.

Since it was my first duplex, I thought having one short term and one long term rental would be good.

In short, I can afford the additional $1100/mo cost of a second house, even until I rent it out.I have around $35K in HYSA and emergency funds that I could use for a down payment, but that's less than 20% which would be required for a conventional loan, assuming full purchase price.

That is tight leverage for an investment 2nd position loan.A private investor might be willing to do it, it's not going to be cheap at all & will be short-term money & will not be a line of credit to take out at your liking.What is your rate on the 1st?

I've done this on one house in order to cut costs - since then, I've added a meter with the utility company but it's a good workaround for the short term. 

In the short term, prices fluctuate like the winds:  Up one day, down the next. 

Hey @Brandon Toron,Given your plan to turn the property into a short-term rental (STR), you have a few creative ways to push closer to that 90% cash-out goal, even if traditional lenders shy away from it:1. 

I’m also open to exploring short-term rentals, private lending, or passive investing in funds—anything that maximizes returns while keeping risk and time commitments manageable.For context, I’d consider leaving my job if this could become a full-time venture that surpasses my current compensation (low-mid six figures).