Using a rental is one of the best reasons to buy one so I like your thinking there.The proliferation of STR in ski areas have made areas a little farther out more of an option in some of the ski areas so you can track the options by looking where they short-terms stop on the map in the areas you like.

Hi Babu,A simple rental property balance sheet will have the following accounts:Assets: Cash, tax and insurance escrow, fixed assets and depreciationLiabilities: Credit cards, security deposits, and loansEquity: Opening balance equity, owner's contributions/distributions, retained earnings and net incomeThere could be a number of reasons that your balance sheet does not balance.

Last option, a hard money lender can help.

Alternatively, you could consider marketing directly to sellers as another option.

I do agree that Mixed-Use took a beating these past few years and would like to see more competitive options. 

Rather than selling the property right now, you could consider doing a lease option. 

If this trend is likely to continue, it might be financially straining to keep the property, especially if you need to invest more in renovations.Financing Options for Renovations: If you decide to renovate, consider how you'll finance these renovations.

If they damage the place, that is what the security deposit and if necessary, the court system are for.

What does everyone think about lease options?

Yes you can put it in a CD, there are also many other investment options in real estate and outside real estate that still make sense today.