>Some CPA insist on having at least 3 stays prior to considering it "in-service", some insist on at least 1 stay.

OP what type and size of deals are you seeing flow? 

Don’t try to buy the “perfect” first dealBuy the right-sized deal you can learn from and comfortably hold for 10 years.Your first deal is about education just as much as profit.Most investors look back and say, “I wish I’d bought sooner, even if the first one wasn’t perfect.”You’re already ahead of 90 percent of people, now you just need one good, simple buy to break the paralysis.

I'm starting to look in STRs and mid-term rentals for Bay Area rentals but have to navigate the local laws of two different cities.

My goal is to purchase a duplex in a solid A/B neighborhood to operate as a mid-term rental (MTR).I know how important it is to have the right team, so I’d love to connect with investor-friendly real estate agents, property managers, and co-hosts in either market.

Confirm local cold-climate specs and size correctly; add dedicated electric hot water per unit.

I mainly focus on the Midwest, and what I’ve seen work well is lining up a property manager who can handle both mid-term and short-term rentals, coordinate cleaning, and market the unit effectively across platforms.

Its a win all around - faster service for the tenants, lower prices for the owners, more control for our company.

You can get this funded, but you’ll need a lender who’s comfortable stepping in mid-project.

In my experience, it really depends on the size of the property and your comfort with tax details.