I have not purchased property via their platform but I'd also note it's few and far between to try to find any deals that pencil in the current environment.  4-5 years ago one could find good cash flow with SFR properties.

Pick up the phone or stop by local code enforcement offices to make sure that you have a crystal clear understanding of local laws and regulations.

I recognize there are other ways I could invest this cash (including another property) but I am being mindful of levering myself out too much in the current environment where job losses are more common in my industry (tech).

Make sure the zoning, local building department/regulations, and neighborhood allow you to put a tiny house on your property and rent it out.If that is not possible, using that money for the next property makes sense.In general, I think increasing housing density will help provide more badly needed housing affordably.To Your Success!

Usually most franchise models in other business environments have the whole package.

I tend to agree, in this uncertain investing environment it makes sense, it just feels weird to have that much cash not working for me. 

As with most municipalities and jurisdictions, the evolution of the AirBnB market has spawned regulation and restrictions on where, when and how a STR can operate.

That would bypass many city/state regulations that force landlords to rent to people here illegally. 

I do NOT trust “regulators”.

Much of my career for the last decade has been in Cybersecurity, and we feel the same about DOJ and regulations around incidents.