Looking for suggestions on any specific building materials, fixtures, accessories, furniture, and tech for a STR.  

Then, there needs to be an incentive for builder and developers to build starter homes not mcmansions.

Things just require more ongoing expenses percentage wise out of state because you have to pay people to do everything for you and you will have a longer time building relationships with vendors even when getting decent referrals. 

I would like to pull out equity from the homes to build either a house on each or an ADU (they are zoned multi-family) depending what makes the most sense on returns and what is feasible.

Quote from @Laura Yelin: Hello BP'sI like Sherman...I lived there for about 3 years many years ago and still sell and rent there.It's a slow wealth building market in my opinion, not get rich quick.Mostly blue collar stable town.

Quote from @Lisa Albright: Hi All,Newbie here, just a quick question we are building an addition on our second home, we have a primary residence, and two rental properties.

She has her own ADUs going in LA, knockdowns and new builds with ADUs.

Owner occ developments there is no value associated to the income approach so these props generally speaking will appreciate a lot more as the neighborhoods are much more desirable. builders the last thing they want to do is sell to investors if they are creating owner occupied communities.. rentals degrade the neighborhood and they will be sabotaging their own values to allow a bunch of investors to buy and rent out in their communities.So when you buy new builds keep in mind if its a build to rent community they will NOT appreciate like owner occupied neighborhoods.. might be best to find something already 3 to 5 years old where the stigma of renters dies down.. that would be best to protect your investment.

To set the scene: A cost seg study breaks your property into two important categories:1250 "real" property aka the building, foundation and other long life assets.1245 property aka anything that can be accelerated such as 5, 7, or 15 year property like carpets, cabinets, or other site improvements.

Quote from @Robyn Henderson: My family's 3 unit prewar building in Brooklyn recently had plumbing issues and I'm debating renovating each of the bathrooms.