I invest mainly in SFH and the rental market is still very strong when targeting people who want to rent their residence, but don't want to be packed into apartments.  

Intent is to live in the largest area of the house, rent an already existing basement apartment on short term rental, add a bathroom and kitchenette to two finished rooms in the garage and create a second short term rental, and then put a yurt in the back yard with sole access to another bathroom that'd be installed in the garage as another STR. 

What's the best cost effective solution that you've found for your apartments?

I live on Whidbey Island yet do own a couple multi-family / apartment complexes in Yakima. 

If you can offer a better value than the apartment, there will probably be some tenants who prefer a home with a lawn over an apartment complex.

If an apartment sat vacant, I wouldn't be able to justify it because they're still renting like crazy.

It depends on the box size, where it is at location wise and demographics, site lines, access with cross traffic, and if dark but current tenant still paying or totally vacant.Smaller box sizes usually have a long list of tenants waiting to go into the spaces in strong markets.

And dont rent the apartment or house that you love, because it is too much and you will stay there for a long time.

We are pushing houses and apartments now knowing we have about 5 weeks

It sucks but sometimes they fall apart, go get the next one!