@Allen Wu can you provide more details?

You can provide them with your cosmetic ideas for the renovation. 

The success of your rental depends on it.

Depending how much you earn you can step up those savings by getting a side-hustle.

.- Service providers are offering more and more operating services. - Lenders are not balance sheet lenders.

There will be pros and cons to different lenders, and so it will depend largely on who you feel will be able to help you the most and actually make sure you get to closing.  

Anyone that feels like they may be able to provide some advice/guidance, I would love to chat!  

i would say it depends on the overall investment strategy. im not really familiar with STR rentals in your area. personally i like the long term rentals, especially if you are trying to be hands off. we have two STR's, one we manage ourselves in FL and the other in Gatlingburg which is managed by a company. even with an STR rental company, i still find myself managing the manager. both require work and are by no means passive. long term (to me) is nice given time investment. hope this helps. 

If buying a rental property, there are investor programs depending on the investor's home country.

I am looking for one that:- provides checkbooks, and - pays a decent interest rate.