Anyhow, I'm curious if you have found certain materials or styles that tend to resonate better with buyers in specific markets, like more modern finishes versus traditional ones. 

If you are using their money for a down payment, are you really planning on renting it to them in a traditional sense or simply having them pay for the mortgage, insurance, taxes, etc (ie you won't be renting it at market value more you are buying the home for them and they are making all of the payments and repairs?

How do these terms compare to traditional loan options?

You listed two but in broader terms financing (assumable, owner financed, sub to, fha, new 95% OO LTV that in most ways is superior to FHA, dscr, F/f conventional, NACA, VA, etc), value adds (development including ADU, upzoning, traditional rehab, sophisticated value adds that leverage localized rules, coop/tic, etc),  property types (residential, commercial residential, land, storage, MHP, industrial, office, camping, hotel/motel, etc), passive/active investment methods (GP, LP, REIT, nnn, self managed, pm, flipping, mineral right, lumber rights, etc), residential rent models (LTR, STR, MTR, rent by room, student housing, arbitrage, etc).  

That consists of buying a single family home with some form of separate living space to rent out as a STR and help offset living expenses.The DownsideLenders Calculate STR/MTR Rental Income Differently- From a lender's perspective, any rental income received on a term less than 12 months is NOT calculated the same way a traditional long term rental is.

Use a Promissory Note and Mortgage or Deed of TrustIf you’re familiar with traditional mortgages, this model will sound familiar.

Traditional financing - 15 year note at 4.5% How did you add value to the deal?

We use the traditional lender and get 15 percent downHow did you add value to the deal?

With your excellent credit and a solid down payment, they may be open to adjusting their rate, especially if they know you’re shopping around.Explore Non-Traditional Lenders: Some private or hard money lenders could offer lower rates for DSCR loans, particularly if the property cash flows well.

I do have a question about being a first-time investor, would it be better to go in as a traditional buyer, live on property while fixing?