I have plain houses in the middle of Wyoming and they do fine during summer months.A third option is to add a duplex or up to a 4 plex and get cash flow up for a least a year to show more income for getting a loan for a STR in a year or 2.Either way I want to say I admire how you are bouncing back from what has to have been a really tough time. 

I wish you only the best and please use Bigger Pockets to bounce ideas or questions just like the situation you found yourself in to get advice from seasoned investors .. 

ONLY let motivated sellers through and have everyone else bounce.Website bounces are GOOD!!

Let me know if you need someone to bounce ideas off of.

More than happy to bounce ideas off with you .

His bank account wound up way overdrawn bounced check etc.

Cash is the ultimate liquid asset.and(things that can be converted to cash--constantly quick)Treasury bills and treasury bonds.Certificates of deposit.Bonds.Stocks.Exchange traded funds (ETFs).Mutual funds.Money market funds.Thinking otherwise could be useful (personally), but "Liquid Asset" is a defined thing.Like a steel I-Beam is a defined thing vs a 2x4 (another defined thing), an I beam could be 2" x 4" but most would spec a Steel I-Beam vs calling it just a 2x4.https://www.wallstreetprep.com/knowledge/cash-equivalents/Is this the Creativity of a top Architect bouncing against the rigidity of Accounting definitions.

See below photo. August is looking to be our best month. We definitely noticed a slump vs last year earlier in spring and each month since it has been picking back up. This is a 2/1 in Avondale that is nicely rehabbed...

If you're looking for someone to bounce ideas off of, or banter about RE, I'm also hear for that!

What we are looking for on that end is to expand the team of people we can bounce ideas and strategies off of that are investor friendly.