Ivan, I'm in Tampa too and I'm a lender with formal commercial credit background from two of the largest lenders in the world and 34 years of lending experience.

My experience with the Cincinnati REIA has been just the opposite of Stone's.  

I’m getting re-acquainted with the BP community after purchasing my first house hack in the Pittsburgh area, and would love to make some connections with other like-minded young professionals and investors in the area.And if there’s anyone out there who’s just getting started and looking to make the jump to buy their first property, I’d love to offer up advice, share my network of contractors in the area, and answer any questions that I can from my experience over the last 6 months!

Considering moving, but we have no interest in losing this property - it’s unique and a great investment asset all things considered.I have no experience whatsoever with renting out a property.

.: Anyone operating an STR in Logan Ohio willing to chat about their experiences? 

Most lenders will vary how aggressive they will get based on the experience of the operator (you), but I don't know any that will lender to someone who's never done a spec build like you're contemplating.

I'm actively seeking mentorship from someone with experience in similar markets who can shed more light on this process.

I think a great strategy would be to find someone who would like to house hack with you, and maybe even someone with a bit of experience local to the area that you trust and know very well to go in on the deal with you.  

Does anyone have any experience with buying and selling in a flood plain?

This is going to vary widely depending on the strategy and real estate asset class.