I'm using Minoan to furnish a luxury STR and it's been incredible, and I am actively trying to find a way to better leverage their service. 

@Trevor McCormick to piggyback off what others have said, determine if you are trying to maximize it as an investment or utilize it as a vacation home you will STR to help cover expenses, as this could dictate which type of property you are looking for. 

The last update we received was that they were waiting for an electric hookup, but when I contacted the utility company, they said they’ve been waiting on Kenny for months.Has anyone else dealt with this?

Even so, you will likely be asked to verify you are living there via utility bill or multiple letters from 3rd parties.Cheers!

The above rate will either be NNN or you need to estimate insurance, property tax and utilities and deduct.  

I utilized those funds to purchase 18 rental units.

all materials, all labor costs to others, Not you, utilities, interest payments, permits, licenses, auto/truck expenses, tools needed are all deductable. 

For example, managing a luxury building requires a different level of service and communication than managing a multi-family unit.

And via the clustering we are utilizing green-space in a communal manner thus reducing foot-print of that BUT retaining such perception as each unit has walkout to what seems a BIG green space.

I got into RE investing utilizing the same strategy as you're exploring.