@Chris Seveney I am not sure if you're hearing this more often than ever, but I hear similar stories weekly in about four markets I operate in.

As someone who started buying with buy and holds back in 2005 and didn’t start wholesaling until 2013 I believe wholesalers who operate in integrity and with character bring a lot of value to sellers and buyers in the market.however Having the resources to be able to close  on deals and then if we want wholesale them has been invaluable to our business. 

@Alecia LovelessWho's operating the heavy equipment ?  

The STR deal could be the best option if I understand your situation correctly, except I would probably do this as a cash-out refi and just use the combination of booking history + AirDNA projected income to qualify (if not operated as a STR for a year).

We operate nationally and I work with my clients in DWF out to Tyler and a bit in Houston.

At the end of the day though, you still couldn't operate a car well by just reading about it.

I am no expert (hence posting here) but the bit that I have read seems to indicate that if the business is located in CA and operating in CA (as is the case since the property is in CA), the business is likely to fall under CA laws in the event of an issue. 

Regulation has slowed the market and made it harder to be an operator.I've never operated my Airbnb to its maximum efficiency because of the time it takes. 

I am curious to know if the proximity to Pennsylvania itself is a crucial factor in renting out the property, or if it would be equally viable to invest in an area further away from the city (with a 1-hour commute time, as opposed to a 30-minute train ride from Haverford).I would greatly appreciate if anyone could provide information on the actual rental prices for an average 3-bedroom house in these areas.

Partner with a friend to protect both interests, create an Operating Agreement, and focus on saving and preparing for the down payment and reserves.