Your report shows that it would need a bit of a lower purchase price, and I like the numbers you used in comparison (for ex. higher Capex vs rent/maintenance).

So visiting a new market in person the few times you decide to expand shouldn’t be too much of a hassle.All that said, there's a ton of research, analysis, and learning you can do remotely to help narrow down your search before actually visiting in person.Here's a couple visuals/comparisons on some of the areas mentioned in this thread.

I imagine the price points in the markets you're currently targeting are pretty high in comparison to other areas.Are you open to out of state investing?

My wife and I have good W2 jobs currently so we get better terms with traditional lending in comparison to DSCR lending. 

And she’s the one that released the latest tax rates and year to year comparisons in September of 2024.

The equity market is a fine comparison, but the reality is if you think every 5 years you're net return will be 90%(not sure if this is pre or post tax) then you can choose that route but you have to mark it to that return annually which is a reach.

Ditto, I use PriceLabs for my STRs - here is a nice writeup ...Airbnb Smart Pricing Vs PriceLabs: An In-Depth Comparison For Hosts | Boost Your Short-Term Rentals

@Brandon Croucier is giving you solid info on finding an experienced and honest mortgage broker who can shop your exact scenario both ways, with the rehab and without and break down the benefits of each with all fees so you can see an apples to apples comparison. 

It’s flexible—you can invest in rentals, commercial properties, or syndications—but managing it requires careful attention to avoid prohibited transactions.In comparison, a SEP IRA offers tax-deferred growth, which might be better if you expect a lower tax rate in retirement, but it doesn’t avoid UDFI tax on leveraged properties or allow borrowing.Before investing, check if SDIRA Wealth aligns with your goals and review their track record.

However this is never an apples to apples comparison.