Consider the forms you get thrust in front of you when you go in for an medical procedure. 

I am doing my due diligence learning what I can about REI and planned on either starting by flipping or maybe getting a multi family. Then, suddenly, acquaintances of ours who own a business have to leave their 3,...

Foreclosures, were something in 2007 that no agent wanted to deal with in my office and yet that's what was thrust upon me. 

You will need to collect your SSC and IDs, Current pay stubs & W2's for the past two years, Your tax returns for the past two years, Bank statements for the past two months, Investment account statements for the past two months, Retirement account statements for the past two months.

The city does allow for a waiver of the primary residence rule in special circumstances, but according to their own examples, they appear open to a waiver only if you can prove the STR is near a hospital and is "regularly rented in support of patient care" and that you've taken measures to promote the general thrust behind the law.

I appreciate everybody's feedback - @Jaron Walling this is definitely like being thrust into a no man's land RPG facing level 5 opponents with no XP and no perks!  

So I think it wise for folks to educate themselves as much as possible & grow organically instead of thrusting themselves into a bunch of properties just because they can.

January has two very promising educational events (more the main thrust; but, at an unusual pace, as far as I can tell) that look very valuable to a new investor - or to one new to the area.  

No better way to learn than to get thrust into the game!

@Steven Hamilton II,Yes - the structure I described is intended for people in multiple thrusts.