My wife and I are aspiring first-time investors currently doing everything we can to educate ourselves and plan for our first property. We are targeting an STR vacation home in the Shenandoah Valley area. I work full ...

If I were you, I'd try to train your cleaners to do the staging. 

I’ve been considering fix-and-flip projects, but I’m wondering if joining a mentorship would be beneficial at this stage.

I met this person in RE as he was / is a developer and I sold a shopping center he built leased up then sold.

I choose leverage for a few reasons at this stage of my investing. 1.

So, I'm seeing a lot more shopping centers and malls getting replaced by housing units.I do agree with you, though, that people will always need to buy groceries and other necessities, whether during good or bad times.

I’m a real estate agent here in San Antonio who works with investors looking to expand their portfolios, so I can definitely provide some insights.1) Growing Areas & Best Spots for Duplexes/FourplexesSan Antonio continues to grow, with strong demand in several key areas:Far West Side (Alamo Ranch, Westover Hills) – A rapidly expanding area with new developments and strong rental demand.Northwest (Near UTSA, Medical Center, Helotes) – Great for student and medical professional tenants, with solid appreciation.Southside (Brooks City Base, Mission District) – Historically overlooked but seeing major revitalization and infrastructure investment.Northeast (Schertz, Cibolo, Converse) – Military-driven demand due to Randolph AFB, plus solid suburban growth.For duplexes and fourplexes, the Northwest and Northeast corridors tend to offer strong rental demand and appreciation potential.2) Is SA Overbuilt?

It was great working with you as well - Another 1031 success story.At your stage a lot of clients are merging off ramps to reduce (but not eliminate) the tax. 

OPM, at the beginning stage will most often be Private Money and I do not mean some PML that is lending no different than a HML, but true Private Money that you find in your Private Life.Who would lend money to a beginner in any craft, you wouldn't and neither would I. 

However, deferred maintenance is a key concern you need to keep front and center.