They have extensive resources and support for property owners.Starting with these steps should give you a solid foundation to turn your home into a successful corporate rental or traveling nurse accommodation.

Is it better than Hard Money loans?

I do not want to put money into stock market right now.

Often old houses have some rooms which are not flat even if they appear to be so to the eye.Also, when you are spending money, you want to make the biggest difference for the cost.

I’m willing to invest in any market that supports long term rentals! 

by the way nothing you indicated in your calculator except for potentially anything to support portfolio calculations is not in the BP calculator. best wishes.  

I would not cash out a retirement account.I would take your STR income and use the profits to pay down the money you borrowed for the STR downpayment.Leverage low interest Stafford loans for college.

(besides money lol) 

Depends on whether or not you can make money on it.

Understand, when you are trying to buy your first rental, from 1,500 miles away you need all the support you ca get, no one was supporting me except for my wife.