@Matt Wan In the Boston area the inventory is so tight I'm not even sure there's "deals" in the off season.

Mid-term is more likely to work in any market than STR, but I think you would be surprised at how well an STR could do if there are no other options like that in the area (think people's parents or friends coming in for the week(end)).I've seen a lot of people grimacing at the net-negative house hack (it's just a product of rates and low inventory in a lot of markets) and this is one option to try to recoup some of that loss.

The voucher holder is happy (very limited inventory) and as the landlord I can get a higher rent compared to the private market.

Rates can be very similar to those of conventional financing (Fannie/Freddie - full doc loans that you will need to prove income to get), but typically a little higher than conventional financing. 2nd - Networking and partnerships! 

I purchased the home with a conventional mortgage and used the grant to help with downpayment and closing costs. 

Inventory has held steady at around 5-6 months for some time now, with roughly 4% more active listings on the market in the metro now compared to November last year.

My journey has been anything but conventional, but it has shaped me into who I am today.

Also Texas appears to be saturated with inventory and more being built.

Check 4 weeks prior to your counties trustee auction date for new inventory. 

These companies will end up holding on to buildings for longer than they planned, keeping inventory low.