Meet with financial advisers/wealth managers and see what other options other than real estate there are and how to best allocate / diversify. ie have you maxed out your TFSA?

Be mindful that there are rules that the lenders want you to check off.Furthermore, there are other rules on the tax side where you want to normally be under to get the most tax benefits.The magic number in both instances is '14 days'Lenders want you to stay atleast 14 days to meet the secondary home requirement.The tax accountant normally wants you to stay less than 14 days or 10% of the days it was used as a rental to treat it as a rental and not as a personal residence.Best of luck!

What if something changes with how that platform works?

I’ve been on this platform 15 years, and can tell you that this is EXACTLY what this platform is for.  

You are generally correct that there is an annual exclusion for gift taxes that generally passes tax-free (of course, in all situations, exceptions apply and you have to meet all requirements to qualify). 

I can provide support of checking in on contractors, staging rental properties, walk potential leads to give you an idea of the property in person or what the area is like, meeting with agents, and drafting scope of work for projects. 

If you pay more, you won't meet your metrics and will probably have negative cashflow and/or equity.You may have to make 10, 20 or even 100 offers to get one accepted at the price that meets your numbers.This is what all investors did BEFORE the Great Real Estate Crash of 2008-2010.

Just work the platform.

Hey @Jason Brown Nice to meet you. 

To maximize its appeal, highlight rental performance, market it on investor-focused platforms, and consider selling before the academic year to attract buyers ready to capitalize on rental income.Good luck!