The market here is ridiculously hot and CO Springs has been on list after list of "most desirable places" "most popular for millennials" etc. so there's a severe shortage of affordable housing.

With whatever is left over, I would BRRRR single family homes and like @Joe Villeneuve said use it over and over again to build your net worth and your passive cash flow.  ...except that the BRRRR method, contrary to popular belief, isn't using your money over and over again. 

For example, if your property was located in a mountain town or popular city destination, there may be a greater need for short term rentals.Ultimately, the less turn over that you have the more money that you are going to make. 

First off, despite popular belief, wholesaling is not investing, it is a marketing job/business.

Another possibility – though admittedly less popular – is taking 12 post-dated checks at the time of lease signing – one for each month over the course of the lease term.

The most popular ways are purchasing the property yourself, partnering with a few partners or investing in a syndication to take down a large property.

In no particular order I have listed some of the most popular markets for out of state investorsCleveland, OhioDayton, OhioToledo, OhioYoungstown, OhioCincinnati, OhioMemphis, TennesseeBirmingham, AlabamaKansas City, MissouriSaint Louis, MissouriIndianapolis, IndianaDetroit, MichiganErie, PennsylvaniaLouisville, KentuckyMilwaukee, WisconsinJackson, MississippiEach of these markets is popular with turnkey investors because of the low barrier to entry, high rental demand & high rent to price ratio.

The barn & sheds are not as popular & yet when we had chickens the mice would nest in the wood piles around the coop & steal the eggs.

Since Airbnb and other platforms have become more popular have you seen an increase in investors looking to purchase strictly for income/an investment or is there still a strong demand for a second/vacation home from individuals?

Wholesaling, while the popular answer is to start there, I disagree and find that to be the most difficult for a newbie.