Assuming you go the HELOC route, another option to reduce your costs assuming you have decent credit is to look at credit card balance transfer promotions.Back in 2003-2004 I had HELOCs on my investment properties and interest rates were increasing.

Do the schools have increasing or decreasing student enrollment?

There are still properties that can increase their rents, and may make for a good investment.  

In 2022 the rents increased 12.1% year over year which was the 3rd highest in the entire country per https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2023/02/14/cleveland-rent-prices.

The land has slightly increased in value (by like maybe 3-4% over 3 or so years) but the value of the structure I'm pretty sure has gone nowhere. 

And since you are licensed, you can potentially do some sales on the side to increase income and save up for investing.

JobsOhio projects that, indirectly, approximately 4,500 additional jobs will be created by 2035, further amplifying this effect.Implications for Real Estate DemandThe substantial increase in the workforce will drive demand for both rental and owner-occupied housing.

The home in mn over 20 yrs averaged 2.8% increase per year.

So, I would work to increase your knowledge and experience and really identify a strategy that suits you before moving forward with anything. 2.

I think we have enough software in the STR world lolWhat if we made a guide to increase occupancy rates that centers around marketing, guest experience, and ways to stand out in saturated markets that isn't simply "buy more amenities"?