STR without ownership is basically a STR PM job for you.  

Credit, jobs, income, age, married, plans for future all this matters.

However, I am still very hands-on for my management business, typically logging 80 hours a week between my two jobs.

The consistent population and job growth are driving real estate values along with many companies choosing to move and develop here like Intel, Amazon, Google, Meta, etc.

Alternatively, once you have a full time job (or an employment contract), you should be able to qualify for a loan and utilize a Down Payment Assistance program.

My daily job is to buy commercial real estate.

It’s super important you prioritize the end product: something that gets the job done well as an STR.  

You will find some of the people you market to (friends,family, former job associates,etc.) will say ( I am an agent, I used to be an agent, I already know someone I use who is an agent,etc.)This is one of the toughest professions in the world.

Also, focus on 2 years of job/income stability.Class D Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, all cashflow with little, maybe even negative, relative rent & value appreciationVacancy Est: 20%+ should be used to cover nonpayment, evictions & damages.Tenant Pool: majority will have FICO scores under 560 (almost 30% probability of default), little to no good tradelines, lots of collections & chargeoffs, recent evictions.

Investments from CA tech companies is driving job and population growth.