After you have your personal finances in order, I think house hacking is the best way to go.

In person connections will take you further than in forum connections.

Also the person paused on their application for a few days before completing it, including before doing the background check and paying the fee.

Doesn't hve to be local - I am open to working remotely with the right person. - Tax planning for 2022 and future years - Want to understand implications of doing STR and material partcipation rules. 

As that will at least help folks that you reach out to know that you are a real person, with a picture and professional bio.

BUT I wouldn't want to be limited to that restriction for an investment property personally.

Would love to hear from anyone's personal experiences on how to navigate this.

yes Timothy Moyer Great person.

A house rule could be added that would clarify and help avoid misunderstandings if it stated, for example, if a person stays there more than 14 days in a 30 day period then they need to be approved as tenants or have some other sort of approval from the landlord.  

This is outlined in Title 18, Section 1725 of the United States Code, which states that any person who knowingly and willfully deposits any mailable matter such as statements of accounts, circulars, sale bills, or other like matter, on which no postage has been paid, into any letter box established, approved, or accepted by the Postal Service for the receipt or delivery of mail matter on any mail route with intent to avoid payment of lawful postage thereon, shall for each such offense be fined under this title.Violating this law can result in a fine for each piece of mail that is improperly deposited.