From what I've seen both as an REI myself and the owner of a bookkeeping firm that serves REIs, it's very hard to qualify for lending using a rental portfolio's income.

Most large property owners and Property managers make it part of their Insurance requirements. 

I am a NC coastal STR owners as well. 

I see small commercial in the same city that trade between 5% and 18% cap rates because net income isn't the only factor for small investments where the owner may do a portion of the work to operate the property and the buyer will use employees.

Are you planning on owner occupying and doing a house-hack?

on zillow and realter I have found and did numbers on and picked the best deals and was talking to the agents and all about the owner and the property learning you know.

I'm not sure what the right path is, but I've been reading about investing in owner-occupied, multi-family properties.

Always wonderful to grow a community and looking forward to meet local real estate agents, property owners, and STR managers. 

Should I transfer the downpayment to the LLC account as an owner contribution and then log the income as repayments back to me?

Defineatly Airbnb and VRBO - but also local sites like FloridaRentals.com , Florida Rental By Owners - etc!