Call another couple property management companies in that area where your property is and ask them for the amount of DOM this house should be on the market till rented.

Speaking from personal experience, buying and operating a STR via a "checkbook" or "self directed IRA" is fraught with problems and is far more trouble than it's worth. 

She's telling me if I file as a REP, I would need to report rental profits/losses on Schedule C instead of the usual Schedule E and pay the the extra self employment taxes. 

It sounds like you got a solid deal on the purchase, even with the appraisal coming in a bit lower than expected.I’ve actually had something really similar happen with a property I bought in Florida.

Quote from @Faith Cubarney: I would really think about getting in front of a couple realtors that do flips themselves and get deals.

., first 5 years of payments) could work.For future deals:You’re right — traditional fix-and-flip loans don’t usually cover mobile homes on land.But asset-based private lenders or small local banks might.

I figure that right now I have about $100K available if Iwere to liquidate what hasn’t gone down significantly.If my job situationpans out, I am thinking about making a move to purchase a couple ofproperties in Central Florida rather than South Florida.

There are a couple ways to go about it! 

After a tough experience in my last W2 job, I’m seriously exploring real estate as a way to build long-term income and more flexibility for my family.Quick background:I’m a project manager by trade (15 years) and comfortable managing reno timelines, teams, budgets, etc.Married with two kids.Currently unemployed, but our household income usually runs around $200K/year.After my parents passed, we sold their home and used the proceeds to buy a house up north.

She mostly does 1-4 unit places but does do the leasing and other things for a couple of apartment buildings in the area.