Make sure all promises or verbal agreements are documented in writing.Be cautious of high-pressure tactics: Be wary of wholesalers who use high-pressure tactics to rush you into making decisions.

Depending on how hard you pressure wash you may need to reseal.  

Have you considered the Deferred Sales Trust (DST) gives you the ability to sell high and buy low and relive the 1031 pressure of 45 day and 180-day deadlines.

Factors that put pressure on these prices include strong immigration and in-migration numbers, strong employment growth, historically low interest rates and quite frankly - difficult access to employment centres in downtown Toronto. 

From inside I built a supportive wall out of 4*6 pressure treated wood.

I'd want to try air pressure (plugging one of the drains first), but replacement may end being the answer. 

Anyone have recommendations for Mount Vernon, WA or the surrounding Seattle, WA area?   

Think the rules may be strict in the city limits so check on that.There is also Isle of Palms,  Folly Beach and Mount Pleasant.You can start in your own backyard.

But also the pressure and opportunity costs on an STR renovation really add up.

It gets you pretty close to central heat & air without having to run ductwork and you can usually mount the outside units somewhere that aren't so easy to steal because of the size, an important consideration if you're in C or below areas.