More demand equals less TI, rent abatement, or other LL concessions to provide when a vacancy does occur, so select accordingly.

Also find out how much of their own $ they have invested in the deal.

My relator said we shouldn't go forward because if the city find out we turned it into a duplex the county can take some type of action on us "not sure what that means" "Also i feel like my relator has a legal obligation to tell me not to go through with this because if he said do it anyway i could possible seek legal action on him (ps I wouldn't)"..

There are a lot of floorplans out there, so you should be able to find what fits your demographic/business plan.

I have a home equity loan being processed and I’m currently active in finding new deals.

Unless you find a properly zoned property, it is no go.Just start looking in places that STRs are allowed rather than try and swim upstream.

Is it the high upfront costs, finding a reliable lender, or something else entirely?

If you take over their accounts (which is a violation of terms of service) and they find out, you will get those account banned and lose it all.I would work hard to start over and get those bookings over to your new account.

They just defer to the owner, provide no contact info for to negotiate and just told me that's their price, but it may come down if it doesn't sell.

Here in Florida, all the roofs replaced and car windshields have driven up pricing also.The only way it does go down is if we get more providers.