I can occasionally find a decent retail flip opportunity on the MLS but I need to be ready to offer in it immediately or it's gone.

Of course, the IRS allows for the occasional unexpected short-term sale - sometimes life happens, you have to sell an investment prop sooner than anticipated to get capital, etc, which is why there isn't a hard-and-fast ownership requirement - BUT you still have to have be able to show your intent  to hold the prop longer.

Friend B was shopping in the same area, and although they wanted to very occasionally use their property, were really excited by potential short-term rental yields. 

We still occasionally find one on the MLS, but it's slim pickings.

Occasionally you may see window units, but for most of what you see will have HVAC.Remember since these are vacant, budget for repair time, leasing time, and leasing fee....I'd think 3-4 months....1month rehab, 1 month to lease, and 1month lease fee. 

They still can pick up the occasional sfr deal along the way when if it is too good to pass up.

Nothing left to fret about other than the occasional maintenance issue.

Occasionally I run into a tenant that is specifically looking for all appliances included, but that's pretty rare.I'm just echoing what everyone above said.

I just calculate the cost of strata fees into my numbers when purchasing a property so that I know that the rent will easily cover strata fees and occasional raises in strata fees. 

Uncle Mo there are no silver bullets out there.Of course you heard of a big commission but not everything that went into that commission.The difference in commercial leasing is usually you have a 9 to 5 Monday through Friday type of environment with occasional work on the weekends but not frequent.There is a difference between a buyers broker helping locate space and a listing leasing broker negotiating the leases and doing the ongoing property management.The ongoing commercial property management for retail can be very intense.The owners want constant auditing and checks and balances to wring out every last cent with the property.It is very intensive and hard work.