If not, paying off the STR could leave you vulnerable to unexpected expenses or downturns.

-When a tenant moved out, the management company refunded their security deposit but failed to account for damage, such as holes in walls and outlets ripped off the walls, leaving me with repair bills and also tenants moving in without the repairs being done.Stuff like this that is consistent and when I ask questions they are defensive, when I ask for more quotes for high ticket items they are defensive. 

If the IRS gets busy auditing them, maybe they will leave you alone.

My contractor mentioned he might've left them since he felt bad about up and leaving the job. 

But I always leave the final decision to them so I'm not liable for their decisions. 

You absolutely have to be on multiple platforms or your leaving money on the table.Some people just use one or the other and your missing out on bookings from people who use the other.I got 4 bookings from Airbnb in 2024 and the rest from Vrbo.

In reality this strategy still works, but we are having to leave more of our own money in the deal because prices are high and/or rent won’t justify maxing the cash out refinance because interest rate is high.

It would be a way of leaving an inheritance that's all wrapped up in an income producing bow. 

Last question, how significantly would the APR improve if we leave 30% in vs 25% or 20% on a HELO? 

Essentially 100% financing leaves no margin for error.