People complain about booking.com cancellations.

Quote from @Theodore Sutton: Check out the site meetup.com and also the events page on BP for meetings up in your area to meet people like this and build relationships.

I can see how an application fee per person can be a deterrent for applicants in my case whether for more upscale rentals people may see it as more normal.I am starting off as a non-refundable fee and measure the resistance, then adjust if needed.

What you need to learn in your 20s is how professional business works, how to manage people and projects, how to run an organization and how to sell ideas and concepts.

I manage my own portfolio and have worked as a PM for a very successful individual but have never considered managing other peoples properties.

There are a lot of great resources here and around the web for people looking to invest in Birmingham.

I help people get funding (mostly through Chase) with good terms like 0% interest for the first year.

With the cost of utilities and the level of comfort people feel is mandatory now there is no way I would want to be on the hook for it. 

You have a great group of people to help you and build a successful portfolio. 

Yes, you need a team, however you can't just assemble people together and call it a team.