I live and work in the Atlanta, GA area.

A little over 15 years ago, in the late spring of 2009, I was a brand spanking new real estate agent coming off of a miserably failed real estate investment venture.

the midwest has lower price points than other areas of the US, sure, but it also comes with its own challenges - for example, very old housing stock, lots of deferred maintenance, and tremendous demand for the best properties."

If the numbers work, the numbers work.

@Olivia Melikian Finding the right agent to work with is important.

I have a residential unit that might come up soon.

I never got the consultation, but was politely told my portfolio is probably too small to pay their annual fees (starts at $2500 and goes up).

The increasing barrier to entry results in fewer new STR's coming available for sale, but also fewer options for guests to rent. 

Quote from @Dennis McNeely: In a sandwich lease option, the investor exercises their option with the property owner to purchase the property when the tenant-buyer indicates they're ready to exercise their option and purchases the property.

Until the lease ends and then the legal notice time in your market has passed.