Maybe try a slow flip and find an eager partner with a little rehab money.

Add to that supply chain disruptions and material cost blowouts, slowing project delivery, and there’s a full-scale demand crisis with almost no delivery.

Now if your talking about just plowing $ into S&P to let it sit long term, oh-man if you think returns are slow coming now you better prepare yourself for discovering a whole new level of slooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwww.   

It definitely slows down the velocity of money and scaling but can still be a good strategy if cards are played well, and a longer time horizon is considered.

I totally get it, as PM with multiple units, furnishing  can be a huge time drain, and hiring a full interior designer often feels way too expensive.

Better to move slow and consider the long game for maximum profit.

If you trap your cash or make a move out of order, it slows you down.

I know there is networking but that’s a slow and labor intensive process and requires me to physically fly to the markets I will be sourcing in.I am not too worried about bleeding $600/week on VAs for potentially months while we work out the kinks. 

Which is a very slow process for me.

Petersburg, FLGreat question, Alli—this is actually becoming more common with younger investors who want to get ahead and stay flexible.Here’s how I usually break it down when clients ask this: Buying a Primary Residence FirstPros:Usually easier financing (lower down payment + better rates)Builds personal equity and stabilityNo short-term rental headachesCons:Your home doesn’t produce incomeLimits flexibility if you want to relocate or pivot quicklyCan slow down your investing goals if it eats up most of your loan eligibility Buying an Airbnb FirstPros:Property pays for itself (if it cash flows)Can accelerate your investing journeyYou’re still building equity—just in a business assetYou can potentially use it yourself in the off-season (lifestyle + ROI)Cons:More complex financing (may require 15–25% down)Short-term rental regulations vary—do your homeworkRequires solid property management, even if you self-manage What I’d Recommend:If the Airbnb deal is in a legal STR zone, looks like it’ll cash flow after all expenses, and you’re okay renting your personal place for a while longer—it can actually be a smarter financial move to start with the Airbnb.That said, run the numbers carefully (AirDNA is great), and make sure you're not buying something that feels like an investment but doesn’t truly perform.I’ve helped others in this exact position weigh both sides—feel free to reach out if you want help stress-testing the numbers or checking on local STR laws in your market.You’re asking the right questions early.