I’d appreciate some feedback on my current approach and advice if any.Here’s what I’ve done so far:Pre-Approval: I’ve secured a pre-approval amount and interest rate from an online mortgage lender.Property Analysis: I’m using the mortgage and STR calculators from BiggerPockets to assess the financials for potential properties.Neighborhood Research: I’ve been exploring different neighborhoods using Niche to get insights into schools, safety, and livability.AirDNA: I’m considering subscribing to AirDNA for data on occupancy rates and rental income estimates.Questions:Is AirDNA worth the investment for STR data?

I would want my money to be secured by a promissory note and mortgage on the property in question, and thanks to the advice from some on here, if the property in question isn't enough to cover it, I would need to attach a lien to other property to ensure I can get my money back. 

Have all your ducks in a row so you can move quickly on securing the deal when you do find the right one that the numbers work on.

Security deposit amountYou can find plenty of examples by searching for "tenant estoppel certificate doc" or exchanging "doc" with "pdf" for more options.Here is an example and explanation: Sample EstoppelSome have a lot of legal jargon but this document does not need to be so detailed.

Consider all the things that could go wrong and see if the lease addresses them: unauthorized pets or tenants, early termination, security deposit, lease violations, late rent, eviction, lawn maintenance, parking, etc.5.

He sent me a contract which if I sign will pay him a fee of 3% of the money secured. 

Hi Nick,I'm by no means an expert on South Bend, but I'm fairly familiar with it.

for sure that is always an option, right now i want to connect with more actual private lenders that want to move their capital at 11% secured by real estate 

Non-recourse loans are typically more common with large-scale commercial projects or through institutional lenders, but most lenders prefer recourse loans where personal guarantees are required.The reason most loans are recourse is that it provides the lender with additional security.

Much/most of Florida is still very much an appreciation investment, especially in and around the major metros.Cash flow opportunities are probably better found in midwest markets but I'm no expert so I don't actually know that for sure.