AirDNA is a great tool, but I tend to find it slightly underwhelming, like @Wayde Hall mentioned for unique properties.

Also, I don't tend to buy linearly. 

As it has been said, I would tend to lean towards continuing to rent.

Self storage can be great, but super easy to replicate down the street, so tends to get overbuilt.How about looking for an existing rv park?

You could buy a house with siding made of corn cobs if you'd like and they'd finance that (assuming the corn cob siding passed code).The issue is that true log cabins tend to significantly limit buyer pools because they are a bit of a niche product so lenders don't want to finance them at all due to the added risk for resale. 

Once we got the home reclassified at the 4% rate, the taxes dropped to under $600 with the same assessed value of the home.In my experience, rental property tends to be taxed at an actual rate of 6% while owner-occupied property has an actual rate between 0.5 and 0.7%.  

Look at census data or local reports.Explore the Neighborhoods:Amenities: Properties close to schools, shops, and transit tend to attract more tenants.

But it also comes with more risk in terms of evictions and damages - which you can never collect for.But STRs don't have any issues with evictions and damages are typically covered by the STR insurance or sometimes the Property Management company has its own insurance too.The other thing is that, on average, STRs tend to generate more income than LTRs. 

They tend to be lower maintenance, and the steady cash flow can be a great way to start building your portfolio.That said, vacation properties can be lucrative too, especially in high-demand beach areas.

Because of that reason, they tend to be the most competitive with the rates as nothing undisclosed to the borrower will ever go to their compensation.