You might be thinking the LLC would offer you more liability protection when set up that way, but whether you own the property and rent to the LLC or the LLC owns it and you are the sole-proprietor of the LLC in its operating agreement will probably be the same in terms of ability for claimants to find you.

As a REALTOR® myself, it is to my benefit to find other investors that are capable of purchasing properties that I do not have the ability to / interest in adding to my investment portfolio.

They can provide insights into whether locking in a new rate now could be advantageous or if other financial strategies could make holding the property more viable.Additionally, consider the overall financial picture, including your ability to cover the mortgage without the rental income covering all expenses.

It can provide a centralized entity for ownership, making it easier to add new properties to the LLC's portfolio.Credit and Financing: Having properties owned by an LLC may impact your ability to obtain financing or refinance existing mortgages.

I would much rather have the benefit of cash flow, forced equity through improvements, appreciation, and depreciation working for me. also have the ability to sell or cash out refi if I needed a large sum of money in the future.

And yet I don't have the time or the ability to manage STRs since I'm always gone.

Curious if you or @Zach Lemaster has any perspective to share on the ability to find a property from which you can retrieve a sizable-enough amount of equity to repeat the process.

The return needs to have ability to noticeably improve life.  

For example, you could find deals that have good long-term potential and buy enough money down so they throw off a bit of cashflow, but not so much equity that it limits your ability to scale.

The cost for this will be about $8000 vs the ability to get $500/month in rent which is a much better option.