Joshua Tree is a bit of a tough market as there are a lot of STRs in the area.Be prepared that your first year might be a little thin as you are new and need to build up some reviews to get rolling.The interior is a bit of a toss up.

I am considering doing this with a 0% APR credit card to avoid a loan. 

The rise in home equity over the years can be credited to two key factors:1.

As long as the rents can cover both the current PITI and proposed P&I payment, credit is at least 680. you should be able to qualify. 

Zillow has an easy application for them to fill out. it come back with a credit score and background info. 

Take a look at this chart: FICO Score Pct of Population Default Probability 800 or more 13.00% 1.00% 750-799 27.00% 1.00% 700-749 18.00% 4.40% 650-699 15.00% 8.90% 600-649 12.00% 15.80% 550-599 8.00% 22.50% 500-549 5.00% 28.40% Less than 499 2.00% 41.00% This is how likely a borrower is likely to default on credit extended to them.

I look at foreclosures.comOut of the 3 stages I am definitely not ready for an auctionpreclosure / short sales:- I need to research how to take over a deed / title- need to prepare how to do door knocking (I have a sales background and feel confident in dealing with an emotional conversation about someone’s home) - there IS a window of like 4 weeks that I need to prepare for (have my finances in order) to then bid before it goes to auction?

Take out an equity line of credit on the property that can be sides as the down payment for the primary residence.

You just buy as many as you can and then figure it out, there is no way to prepare, you just deal with it.

It's likely a scam anytime they sound like AI or the grammar is weird or they use the word "kindly", if they ask for you to respond to them off-platform, if they say their employer will pay for it, if they ask if the dates they've specified are still open (when they can clearly see they are open on your calendar), if they ask for a video of your property (they probably want to set up a duplicate listing with your photos and video and scam others out of money), or if they want a long term booking and they have just joined the platform and have no reviews (could have been evicted from somewhere else, and hope a newbie will let them in with no background check, they'll end up not paying or credit card is bad).