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.

Petersburg, FLGreat question, Melanie—and a super common fork in the road for people considering STRs.

This is common, when you initially list a property the interest is at it's highest for the first week or so then it wanes after that.

Over the years, I’ve worked with dozens of investors on the financing side of house flips and have had a front-row seat to over 100+ deals — some wildly successful, others… expensive learning moments.Here are 3 rehab lessons I see new flippers commonly overlook:Underestimating Holding CostsEven with a solid contractor, delays happen.

It's a more common ask in construction and commercial financing, but even conventional loans have guidance on the request, so you just need to ask and get to the correct person to answer your question. 2) Talk to a lender/bank about the terms they would lend on the vacant or ax barn property.

I'd like a triplex or property with 3 homes on it which is common in that area. 

Looking to learn from your experiences so I can better serve clients—and maybe help others here avoid common lender-related pitfalls too.Appreciate any insights you’re willing to share!

What tends to work best here is presenting lenders with a detailed scope of work and rehab budget, plus a clear resale strategy with comps that support the projected ARV.In fix & hold strategies like BRRRR, it’s common to use a short-term loan (hard money or private) to buy and renovate the property, then refinance into a long-term DSCR loan once it’s rented and stabilized.

A common one is hard money but it is a bit expensive so do research. 

I had briefly looked into the approach you mentioned, which I believe is commonly referred to as “co-hosting.”