My partner and I are looking to buy an STR in Destin.

If it were me, I'd be looking at markets where: 1-homes stay on the market for less than 50 days 2-you can still get 1% rule3-there is a notable hipster scene 4-is also a decent tourist destination 5-inventory can't keep up with demand so absorption rate is > 20%

I have been visiting the Florida Panhandle (Destin, Sandestin, 30A, etc.) my whole life as we have family there and it is a good driveable distance for us to travel.  

We are in an economy where we hit a button and get picked up by some stranger and taken to our destination.

Retail destination type tenants needs storefronts to do business and can't do it online.

My goals in real estate are for ultimately the ability to retire younger than the average person... however now I feel like I'm getting some hints to do it sooner than later!

I just received my AARP membership cards ...

So if you don't figure out what direction you want to go at least start with crossing off the destinations that don't have any appeal.

A -> B -> C" short-sale flips were common before the industry (and the legislatures) imposed the concept of title seasoning.David J Dachtera"Success is not a destination.

I didn't consider it to be a destination, but Boulder, RMNP are, and Lyons has a bluegrass festival that is pretty popular, I'm near the Boulder County Fairgrounds which has several big events every year, etc.The owner of the duplex next door has an AirBnB property that is rented at least 60% of the time - all for a small town that isn't a destination location. 

I have 16 houses under my belt and it is my company's strategy to take on class B+/A rentals in a destination part of my town.