There are lots of options like VRBO, booking.com, direct booking platforms, snow bird sites and medium term rental sites. 

If you look through many of the threads on this site you will see a great deal reviews showing full experiences that encountered obstacles, but more importantly, how we stayed involved to resolve the issue when those issues came up. 

.- Any unique approaches or tips that have helped you stand out and attract capital for projects like ours in the California market.Looking forward to hearing your experiences and advice!

As usual, hat tip to @Bruce Woodruff  who always nudges me to explore something new and learn more about it.

- Challenges and Tips: What are some common challenges investors face in this area?

You can't even look at a foreclosure so you don't want to buy your first investment site unseen.

If you have some hot tips on new markets I should check out in other areas, I'm all ears, and my list of things to report about for BiggerPockets STRs is never-ending.2) This is for NEW investors.

There is all the trades but what about trainers for the trades, project Managers, draftspersons, logistics, site survey, submittals, on and on and on..... 

Sites like NeighborhoodScout or even just attending local city planning meetings can provide insights into where the city is growing.Network with Local Investors: Building relationships with experienced investors in Austin can accelerate your learning curve.

I had the listing on Avail (which I use as a rental manager, and posts to many other popular rental sites), Zillow, and Facebook Marketplace.I already have a Section 8 tenant at Property #1 (which I acquired during the purchase), so I'm not opposed to the program at all, and to be honest, they pay above market rent in my area, so that worked for me.