To have a SUSTAINABLE business in STR long term, you must migrate from relying on third party platforms to generating deal flow through your website, social media, repeat business and word of mouth.Any third party app will maximize their profitability and allow the service providers the minimal profitability necessary to maintain their interest.in other words as a STR provider AirBNB or VRBO will maximize their own profitability without regard to yours.  

Now, I have not tried this but in practice I see no reason why I could not use a service (Plastiq, Venmo?) 

I'm trying to figure out if it would be worth it to start my own business or use someone else's service that is already established.

I just recently found another lender, CV3 Financial Services, who will go as low as $75k on DSCR.

The local who lives there but commutes 30-60 min to another community because they can’t find a job to support their family in their town.That same local knows that a 4plex would be great on that lot that’s been vacant for 20 years and that there are at least 4 families who could benefit greatly from that development.That local knows that Ryan’s plumbing and Katie’s electrical companies that service 75% of the town really needs a new flex space to use as a shop, storage, and parking for their business so that they aren’t working out of their garage and can hire a couple of locals to work with them at the office and in the field.Development is different in our small towns but if locals aren’t the ones doing it, and developers aren’t coming, what happens to our kids futures?

We are a customer service company that happens to work in the real estate industry.  

I know of several excellent property managers in the North Alabama area that would service the Harvest area, including several that I've never worked with personally, but have a good rep in the area. 

Also, if anyone knows of any other background check services that are more reliable please let me know.

Of course it is very important to do proper due diligence on the investment and the operator.As far as self-directed IRA there are number of companies offering such service, this topic has been discussed here on the forum many times so you should search using this keyword and learn from those discussions.

If you don't meet that 12 month seasoning requirement and/or want to hold the property under an LLC, a debt service loan may be a better option.