Purchasing a rehab co-op unit. 

I was open to condos and co-ops but after more research am stuck. 

. :-) AS I think about this I realize the OP is Canadian and lending is quite different in that country than this country..

However the one that the OP inquired about, the property tax exemption for 70% disabled, CAN be taken on any ONE property anywhere in Texas and it does not have to be the homestead property. 

OP Retirement- I retired from my W2 8 years ago.  

This would be a non arms length prohibited transaction and would potentially result in the entire IRA being distributed is my understanding...the only way this could be possible is if the OP is or becomes retirement age in the next two years.

Doing things this way, I have no doubt you can do better than you could with a REIT ... the OP states that he does not want to and/or can't invest hands on local, so I think the next best for a newbie that isn't going to be able to control their RE investments hands on and local is a REIT.

The OP is not working for Airbnb but a homeowner who would like to list their property on the Airbnb listing website but wants someone else to do the work.

The op is of Seattle, and every little surrounding city has adopted their own set of rental laws(many following and based on Seattle, Portland, Tacoma, etc.  

That aside, unless the OP designed and drew the plans he has no rights to the plans whatsoever.