That's a great approach in terms of starting with a 3-month lease. 

Still, I think you'd find it difficult to find one that would be a good long-term investment unless you had another ~20-30 years to go, it's at least cash neutral, and you don't plan to hold it too long (to avoid too much investment loss and before you get to the point where it's unsellable because of too few years left); that's another way of saying that maybe it suits your cash needs in the near-term or is at least less of a pill to swallow than other options until you find something that's more of a sensible long-term play

I’m based in Tampa and run Graystone Investment Group, focusing heavily on helping (out of state) investors find and manage properties here in Florida.Totally agree on the importance of understanding those short-term rental rules in Florida—each area can feel like its own little country with all the different regulations!

I personally am interested in creating a long-term rental portfolio but I'd be interested in hearing any strategy, ie. house flipping, short term rentals etc.

This gives you the chance to do any work needed and/or stabilize the multifamily so you can get optimal terms for your perm financing.  

Are you interested in long term rentals or short term rentals?

If you are considering working with them, I strongly advise you to double-check the provided rates and terms carefully.During my loan process, I discovered that they had added a yield spread interest without informing me. 

My short-term goal is to secure my first single-family and rental property, while my long-term vision is to build a thriving real estate portfolio that generates wealth and financial freedom.I’m currently learning the ins and outs of financing, deal analysis, and market selection.

Any surprises in terms/fees?

Plus, investing in hurricane-proofing and key upgrades should help long-term durability and reduce major CapEx surprises down the road.Since you're aiming for a BRRRR-style approach moving forward, are you looking to find value-add multifamily deals in Maryland, or are you considering other markets?