I’m coming up with: $4600 monthly rents$450 insurance $950 taxes $690 Cap ex, Maintenance and Vacancy 5% each $400 water/electric from current financials $130 landscaping from current Which leaves me right under $2000 for a mortgage payment just to break even, which is a purchase price of $375k with 25% down.

Keep the asset / upside. 

Here are some diagrams to help you in your quest for answers on this subject:Asset Protection Decision Diagram - to help assess the need for asset protection, and what to implement : https://www.biggerpockets.com/files/user/CosIorg/file/asset-protection-decision-diagramAsset Protection Onion Diagram - what, when and at what cost one should implement in terms of asset protection - https://www.biggerpockets.com/files/user/CosIorg/file/asset-protection-onion-diagram-v2What is needed for a complete asset protection OR the domains that need to be intersected to find asset protection

I do have customer service background working in high end restaurants in Orlando for 8 years (getting food shopped all the time and passing with 100%) and feel I would be an excellent asset to someones property in it becoming a successful STR.

You need an insurance agent, a real estate attorney, an asset protection attorney, and varies contractors for starters.

In these cities, your financial resources will go a long way enabling you to assemble a diverse multifamily portfolio and initiate a steady stream of income.

Carlos you could do a blanket loan or single asset loans / combination of both and/or sell some them. 

Having a 24 month term on the front end will also make my job easier doing the take-out loan when it's time to refinance into permanent debt, because there's room in there for a full year of tax returns to have been done in the middle (if your exit plan is to sell, it'll also make it easier on your buyer who will presumably be willing to pay a higher price if they can get an A-paper good mortgage).Ask for a 24 month term, tell your contractor you want it done in a year (and make it financially worth their while if they can pull it off), internally/mentally plan on 18 months, and I'm putting you on notice now to do your tax returns on time, rather than extending them (don't fight me on this, please just do it).Trying to get a renovation mortgage like this for only 1 point is likely a waste of your time, but if you want to ask, after you've secured the above as a 'done deal,' go for it, can't hurt. 

- Investing with a Friend: Tips on structuring partnership and legal/financial considerations?

They're lending their own assets and the majority of the time holding the note rather than securitizing it in the market.