Like any good American, I prefer happy endings.

My preference is to prioritize longer bookings and STR in the gaps.

Also, what niche jobs in real estate (Agents, appraisers, house inspectors, lendors, ect.) are going to be replaced eventually?

You could easily niche into that via even just the legal realm and would probably never have to step outside of it.

If you do pick a market with heavy single-family or mobile home segments, keep your eyes peeled for local property management teams who actually cater to that niche.

For home protection I prefer a 20 gauge pump action.

If you really have gone from 3 to 200 properties this past year while having a two W2 jobs, you seem to have found your niche and doing well, good for you. 

It was hard to find anything that cash flowed enough to make it worth it to us, and I personally prefer to have the ability to manage my properties myself.We decided to pivot into business acquisition.

Having 2-3 contractors in each field is important, as your preferred guy won't always be available. 

We'd prefer not to have anyone else on the loan - just my son.