I have an investment property in Cleveland, Ohio that I have considered using as a short term rental compared to having a long-term tenant.

C-Corps usually aren't a preferred structure for real estate.I know that with a self directed IRA all of the income has to come back to the IRA - read another way - you can't take the profits from your investments and access them today (so no passive income that you can utilize in the near term).  

As a complete beginner with no experience at all, please guide me on everything I should know and all the steps I need to take to make a successful investment.Thank you in advance.

"Safely" being taking deprecation on other long term capital assets 

Has anyone had success with this?

Can you 1031 a duplex (long term rental currently) or multiple duplexes to invest in a beach front property and use it as a short term rental?

Although the intention of the HELOC is discretionary access to capital, the final purpose is usually for long term reinvestment or portfolio expansion.

If you did something similar, how was your experience and how were you successful, or unsuccessful?

Can you give us details, price, downpayment, loan terms, cap rate etc.

I am buying SFR long term rentals personally.