The best way to find a quality mentor is to go to local meetups and meet people.

Way to go!

I considered adding a universal gym but will go with billiards and foosball instead.There are more spas in this STR market than EV chargers ((only 5 or 6 units have a EV charger), yet it is about 200 miles from the nearest large metro (too far for most EV to go without a recharge).  

Pros include securing the desired property and strategic planning, while cons involve higher costs, financing challenges, and complexity.

You can read a book and multiple books, but unless you are out there doing it (I.e. getting bids and getting contractors to truly get you an exact estimate) you will be far off from the numbers you want and may even lose money on the flip/rehab.The best advice I would suggest in my experience is that you should get into the line of work by either partnering with someone or working with someone on some projects prior to going into a flip on your own.

On the other hand, keeping the house could allow us to maintain an appreciating asset in a desirable location.I’d love to hear from others who’ve faced similar decisions.

History: At one time (when I first began marketing for LPO leads for a fellow investor) the Free Ad Sites were the place to go to find motivated sellers.

This may be just the thing that convinces me to "go pro"! 

I'm not looking to go into flipping, maybe help fund a few for the lessons.

Hire an HVAC contractor to go check it out, of course.