An STR is an income producing investment.I've never gone wrong with 3 things: 1) quality, 2) quality and 3) quality......Get an above average tub with great ratings/reviews and use a service to keep it going.

As a first time and out of state investor, my top priorities for this first investment were (1) a property that would be quick to rent (as I didn’t have other properties to offset extended vacancy rates), and (2) a very strong local PM team that RTR had extensive success with.

Purchase price: $672,000 I bought a primary home with a 5.1% rate.

This bodes well for long-term equity growth.Rising Rents: The uptick in rental prices shows a strong demand for rental properties and could lead to better cash flow for investors.Economic Strength: Reading has a diverse economy, with key sectors like manufacturing, healthcare, and education providing stability.Rental Demand: Low vacancy rates signal that people are actively renting in the area, which is essential for scalability.Future Development: Any upcoming infrastructure projects or new businesses could further boost the market.With these positive trends, it seems like Reading could be a scalable rental market.

It would be our second up down house hack, however, with interest rates in the high 6's, it would probably not cash flow after moving out.

NOI divided by purchase price gives you cap rate. 

If you're considering hard money loans, they can provide fast funding, but with higher interest rates and shorter terms.

In short, this would be an entirely appreciation-based investment.Given the state of the economy today, with high interest rates and the seller-buyer lock out effect, I want to discuss the pros and cons of this investment at length, specifically in the context of all the other properties / neighborhoods that I have been evaluating. 

Are investors finding it easier or harder to refinance with current rates?

I do not do any flat rate to the tenants I just bake it into the rent!