I have not personally condo house hacked, but I did house hack my first single family home and had a friend stay with me. 

Any particular layout that you recommend or would stay away from (2 story vs 1)3.

Local MLS AccessHaving access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) allows you to stay ahead of new listings and price changes.

Staying active and engaged is crucial.Build a Robust Profile: Your profile should showcase the deals you've done and include reviews from past clients.

So if you are in a state where houses on average are above $500k, I would say stay away from this company. 

Suzette,Stay away from any company that offers you a Loan modification or a foreclosure "Audit" and what ever new name they call it now a days.

you have to find an off market deal that is distressed but not too distressed, buy it and close on it, have a contractor that you trust lined up to rehab it, oversee the rehab to be sure it stays on track, get it rent ready and then rented out, and then / in parallel refinance.how will you execute those steps in any market? 

While staying in contact with seller, Find out about an environmental court date late January.

I'm trying to stay level-headed and unemotional about it (it's not going to kill my deal regardless), but this doesn't pass the common sense test.  

This is particularly beneficial in popular tourist areas where demand for short-term lodging is high.Flexibility: Owners can choose when to rent their property, allowing them to use it personally during off-peak times.Support for Local Tourism: STRs provide a unique lodging option for tourists, helping to boost the local economy by attracting visitors who may prefer a home-like stay over traditional hotels.Diversification for Investors: STRs provide real estate investors with an additional income stream, especially if they own properties in tourist-heavy areas.Cons:Strict Regulations and Higher Fees: San Antonio recently updated its STR regulations.