However, the fam member installing them for me is only a licensed HVAC contractor in FL so he's been unable to buy the units at the regular retailers that would regularly sell it to him (like Bryant, Johnstone Supply, etc).  

Too expensive, too much multifamily supply as @Scott Trench mentioned.

Waking up at 6am to conduct repairs before work, staying up until 1am after work showing properties, buying supplies at Depot/Lowes, repairing more properties, and calling back applicants since no one in D-class has/uses email, ever.Confronting the realization that no screening any PM will ever do can filter out for populations that live off the grid and outside of traditional credit markets. 400-500 credit scores are expected, past landlords that were unreachable, and jobs that were often cash money with little/no documented receipts. 

As far as STR goes, you can house hack the property that you first buy (in a single family home or in your unit of a multifamily property) and potentially do short term rentals in all of the other units or in your exiting property.STR as a way to invest is getting more challenging currently as supply of new STR inventory has been outpacing the demand for STRs.

@Philip Hong I love this product type, it's in short supply nationwide.

If you where going to be able to recreate the orginal layout, you would of been able to do so by the clues left behind by remaining framing, be it the "honey" holes where the toliets once where, the sizes of the holes in the joist would indicate what pipes ran where be it hot and cold supply, toliets, showers and other industry standard tell tale clues. 

Those funds are valid if you supply the note and mortgage/D.O.T. 

This marks Bascom’s sixth acquisition in 2024, further solidifying its strategy of investing in high-demand markets.Despite a challenging market with high interest rates, Bakersfield’s strong multifamily fundamentals, including population growth and limited housing supply, have made it a prime investment location.

For years, there have been claims that short-term rentals take away housing supply from renters and homebuyers and, as a result, inflate rents and home prices in nearby areas.

Also, tenants will often times already have their own washer & dryer units and would rather use those instead of owner supplied W&D.