I'm looking to self manage and also manage a few units of some one else's portfolio.

To answer your last question, self management is possible but most people have no idea how difficult it is to self manage a truly successful STR with 60-70% occupancy.

I did reach out to group manager and talked to him.

In my first fourplex, we planned to tell the tenants that we were the managers.

As I understand it, there used to be an on-site management company that operated some of the units as a condotel. 

I also am starting to manage a couple of other short term rentals so want to make sure I’m keeping as much of this income as possible.

With the right project, you can pull out 100% of your equity when refinancing and "repeat" the process.The key is to buy low enough in an area that justifies an ARV that will allow you to pull out all of your cash at a ~70-75% LTV.

I just ended my management company (30 notice), officially ends the third.

It's very affordable and will save you time with auto messaging, channel manager so you can list on Airbnb and VRBO, and some light task scheduling for cleaners and handymen.

Keep in mind my buddy is 28, a manager at a large tech company and very responsible/clean.