A buddy of mine managed to get a better deal because the local lender understood the potential of owning adjacent properties.Honestly, the financing world can be a bit of a maze, and it's easy to feel a little lost.Anyway, hope that gives you a few ideas to chew on.

I haven’t worked with them yet but I’ve been following them on FB for a few months now and it looks like they are a one-stop shop.

However, this area does have a growing population adjacent and high forecasted median income growth.

I would shop local to your STR.

It was a self-storage property in a small town in Central Illinois with a recently underway residential development adjacent to the property, so lot's of upside.

Currently shopping around for a convention loan for first home to house hack.

And I can't really talk shop with my inner group of friends (other than the macroeconomics of CRE).Are there outlets for these types of conversations? 

Also with the population growing due to foreign plants opening shop there. competition can be very fierce & properties left for auction is minimal.

If in a low income area and a squatter breaks in and sets up shop, they can stay there a year before you can put them out.

A lot of borrowers shop lenders for days to find the "lowest rates" just to find out 3 weeks later that the lender cannot perform on their promise.