I focus on finding deals that meet specific criteria, and I always keep my underwriting conservative to make sure the numbers work even on a worst case scenario.Right now, my big goal is to land my first property, ideally 20+ units in Florida, and build a strong portfolio from there.

If the place is vacant, you are still taking that money out of your own pocket.I don't disagree with having a strong cash position; most of my properties are f&c.

Providing strong supporting data from your Airbnb bookings, market comps, and STR reports will strengthen your case and help you close faster! 

If you're investing in real estate out of your home state don't you have, at minimum, a Realtor, Contractor, Property Manager, Lawyer, etc. in the state where you're looking to create a local presence?

Their customer service remains strong and they are prompt to reply,  we have been told that some fixes are in the pipeline but nobody is able to say when or what the fixes will be.  

Which I also would tell you that if you have trouble managing finances and poor credit I strongly advise against real estate as its capital intensive and if you struggle now managing money having more money and real estate only exacerbates that issue.

I feel very strong on this one!!!  

That being said, rental rates are remaining fairly strong, and with such an equitable position in your property, your cash flow should remain a positive net to you. 

It sounds like you’ve set a strong foundation for your real estate investing journey, especially with the time you’ve spent educating yourself.

Consider financing options like hard money loans, or FHA loans for house hacking, and focus on areas with strong rental demand near the MA/NH border.