I control the price I buy at (equity gain at the buy), I can force appreciation on my own terms, I get the monthly cashflow, I get direct tax benefits, appreciation and loan paydown that directly affects my net worth since I own the asset.

Were you just looking to gain your time back?

Leverage your existing equity to invest in smaller properties, such as a mixed-use or retail space, to gain experience and cash flow.

I am new here just trying to learn and gain knowledge to start buying my own rentals 

I gained as much knowledge as possible during my three month course but eventually it came to an end.

I don't know the rules in the US, but in Canada, you can do that every 2 years and when you sell, you don't pay taxes on the capital gains.

I'm eager to learn from experienced investors and gain valuable insights into the world of STRs.

At that point in time, we can just list the property and sell it. we have long-term capital gains rather than short-term capital gains, we would have probably experienced some appreciation during that time.

As you get to this point your gaining more confidence in the options because you know option A and B had a certain outcome that wasn't option C, and this would give you more confidence you're doing the right thing for you.From there, I would be identifying properties to acquire if you don't already have some in mind and then my next sheet is creating the plan.

While there's no strict requirement to match the original mortgage terms, reinvesting the full proceeds without financing or using leverage to enhance returns is key.If you don't reinvest the full amount, any shortfall ("boot") will be subject to capital gains tax, and depreciation recapture may apply.This post does not create a CPA-Client relationship.