I did go online and read about DSCR ground up loans, so I know they are out there. 

But you have to play the hand your dealt in areas you live and work in..

Hey BP, I am currently playing my last year of baseball at the University of Memphis.

You get blocked by carriers then expect your personal phones to be shut down.You don't have to using a service like Launch Control or the others...Only with the google play app do you have to use a personal phone number and I haven't used that number in 1 1/2 year.The anti spam things the networks are doing are pretty difficult to get around I can see why that SMS platform threw in the towel and has you using your real phone number.  

Was there a way to do this myself online which would have worked better?  

Go to Etsy and search for "rental property tracker," and you will find hundreds of nice spreadsheets to track 10-20 rentals, usually for under $10.Software has extremely helpful features like online payments, marketing syndication (click a button, and your property is advertised on multiple sites), electronic document review/signing, maintenance tracking, and owner reports.

In your situation, it sounds like the primary focus for you is more a quality of life play (reducing your commute time), and the STR may allow you to break even cash flow wise? 

As you're starting your journey, here are a few tips to help you along the way:Educate Yourself: Take advantage of resources like books, podcasts, and online courses focused on real estate investing.

interest rates appreciation and rent growth play a huge roll in brrrr and housing hacking 

I'm trying to wrap my head around working with investment capital long term, and there's also the potential for some seller financing from the building owners, and my cousin is on the board of a bank which could also come into play.