I saw Rod Khleif - Life Time Cash Flow Podcast is now offering Multifamily coachingOne on One  $14,900 one time and $1900 a month. 

How we have worked around this is by pulling $50K from my account this year, then $50K from my wifes the next year, and then repeating that cycle. 

You are a high w2 earner, The house is worth 110k today, you are buying from your grandma for 60k in exchange for free rent for life, upside ARV of 200k.The costs of owning the house will help provide tax relief on your high w2 earnings, you are buying a great chunk of equity that will pay off in the future, and you and your grandma are doing each other solids. 

When it comes to a lifestyle property, it's another ball game and all the comments you wrote make total sense, especially for people who like similar things in life.

And since I would like to go back to it being a STR when some of my life calms down in a year or 2, it doesn't make tons of sense to get rid of it all and then start again!

The Shoals is a great place to settle down and take life slow.

I've done it twice in Reno, NV and it's changed my life. 

What stage in life and in investing are you are questions I think you should ask yourself to get a clear picture.

I think every market and every person have their own reasons, but here are some thoughts from a property manager.Pros for self managing / cons of PM- Keep all the revenue- You have 100% control- You own listing, photos, etc- Nobody will ever care about your investment as much as you do.Cons for self managing/ Pros for property management- This is a 24h / 7days a week business and I imagine you have at least somewhat of a life I imagine. 

With a 3-5% down FHA loan, I snagged a cozy home in a hot spot, worked from home to play handyman, and created a hedge against the "what-ifs" of life.