Easier to rehab, the initial investment is lower, turn around is quicker, and and they generally easier to rent and have lower vanacies. 

That financing worked because I was initially purchasing it as a vacation home and the lower down payment was going to leave cash for renovations and furnishings.

-what an appropriate amount Of initial cash looks like As I’m likely in the same spot of many other folks new to this, I’m trying not to overthink things.

Update: After the initial post I was able to do so more research online and through the forums (where there were endless posts on the subject). 

I called the cleaning company and they said all services to the house go to the property owner of the house and that they were going to take me to court for a service my tenant initiated and I knew nothing about.

That's why i needed my sisters help initially.  

I think the point @Nathan G. was making initially was about the intrusion of our "partner" in STR into our lane of business (correct me if I got that wrong, Nathan).

offer him a preferred interest payment for using his money.......on the net....then split it 50/50.so if he put up 100K.....you net 100K....lets say you offered him 10% on his money......after his initial investment was given....he would be owed 10K out of that 100k Net.....then it would leave 90K.....yaw would then split the 90k 50/50.......so in the end he would have 55k.....and you would have 45k.......because you offered him 10% interest on his money

I can say I have already achieved my initial number in three years, and unlike other investments this number will always stay same or go higher. 

SD market is tough for cash flow, at least when you initially purchase the home.Your best bet is a live in flip / house hack, meaning you buy a house in need of some love in a nice neighborhood at a discount, fix it up and then house hack.