Your agent or realtor must be investors friendly, with some extra designation such as SFR ( short sale and foreclosure). 

We actually designed it thinking we would rent to visiting scholars by the semester but there aren't that many visiting scholars during the summer.

Many of the ones that are designed for short-term rentals include things like cable and internet as part of your HOA dues.

Should I have an architect design it?

Great exercise in rehab budgeting - got to use a new spreadsheet I designed that includes prices for everything and helps calculate actual rehab costs.

The owner of the site designer is not engaged in individual configuration of the web engine to suit your needs.

Others you can do a design build with a GC.  

I am an architect, designer and project manager with over 25 years in the business.

Custom built because I want to add an inlaw apartment and to design the house in a way where I don't have to interact with the tenants, as in, they have their own exits and entrances and perhaps make their bedrooms into mini studios (with full bathroom and kitchenette).

What I do with some clients is bring in a contractor and have them provide estimates after designated phases in the design process.