We are considering staying in our current flip for two years. 

Next, do you stay at the 25% investment range, or go beyond that, to make sure you achieve your return expectation?

I agree that something like a private mortgage sounds better.Do you or others on the forum have recommendations for structuring a “sell & stay” deal?

I imagine the margins are thinner, they take really great processes to stay in the black, and you really need to know what you're doing.I'm looking at a Missouri town, everyone I talk to there says there's a rental shortage. 

No new inventory is being built in the $150K price range, so those homes are going to stay in high demand for FHA buyers.  

This hurt my cash flow and was surprised by a tax lien this summer, it was under $400 but I feared it would tip off the lender of the new owner.

BetseyWe have listed our properties on Google Business .Since doing that, we are running about 50/50 of people coming directly to our web site and going through HomeAway ,VRBO or Trip Advisor or Flip KeyOur Season is almost 85% word of mouth. which really helps cut down booking fees.We have seen and been told that during season once guest find a place they book for the following year because if they don't they won't be able to get in.We have been doing this going on 3 seasons now, when we bought the place we inherited a couple of guest that have been staying on the property.

you don't want to take your 200k tax free gain and turn it into a taxable number … so if it was me I would either sell the home take the tax free gain and figure out what to do next.or I would stay in it..

You would be surprised how much information that they will give you. 

I'm not necessarily planning on staying in the short term rental game long term, but our market is under-saturated with STR and since I bought the house with cash, now would be a great time to experiment with how I like STR and if I want to consider doing some STR's with some future BRRRR properties.