Meth is not your friend.Which is easier: forcing speculative equity or tapping natural equity? 

Of course, I'm a buy and hold guy stuck on cash flow and am not too keen on excessive speculation on appreciation.

There is a potential tech correction everyone is speculating on, but that is countered by continuing improvements in the general economy and the rest of the USA RE market.

A spec build is short for speculative build. 

Instead of giving more info you are keep posting same stuff and leaving it to my imagination which tells me it is advertisement.If otherwise you can write it, I dont need private convo, you can provide more info here so I do t have to speculate. 

Agreed that it's future speculation and all numbers can change.

I'm speculating that the data is skewed from long established Air BnB's located in downtown or previously featured on Chip & Jo's Fixer Upper. 

Possibly, but that is speculation at this point so I would consider it but not bet on it.

I am thinking to prioritise cash flow over appreciation, as appreciation is speculative and financial independence is my end goal.

As a disclaimer I have never done a deal like this and my steps outlined below are purely speculation and opinion and how I would go about approaching this situation.