You'll learn a lot here.I recommend focusing on 1 strategy/business model and going all in on that one until you've mastered it and it's stable.

BiggerPockets also has a calculator to analyze deals, and I highly recommend you start this as soon as possible, even if you are not ready to buy.

Any recommendations?

Pay attention to the details and be organized Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

@Alec JacobsI often recommend Relay to my clients.

Do to the state mandates that require 100% reserves in all categories, combined with the rising cost of their neighborhood insurance policy, my strong recommendation is you find out what further anticipated spikes in association dues & if any possible special assessments are looming.

I would also recommend joining local FB groups in your area.Hey Julia, My real estate agent just did a round of direct mail, and I have been thinking of doing the same.

Too bad you can't buy something owner-occupied, put 5% down with the best interest rate, live in it for 12 months (and fix it up), rent it out and repeat the cycle.Here's some other info you might find useful:----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

the more inconvenience you can put up with, the better you'll do.beyond that a few random comments for you:-lawyers don't usually recommend contractors. 

I think tax benefits should be secondary to buying something that would work well as a STR.I would recommend you consult a tax professional to see what possible tax benefits you could receive from buying this STR.