Hi - for Orlando, bedroom count is usually key, as this area serves multi-generational families in larger single family homes.Look for a good HOA resort zoned for short term rental (ie Windsor island, solara, reunion, encore, Storey lake, etc) and depending on the size of home, most will come with in ground spa/pools, with the exception for the majority of margaritaville units.We do manage some townhomes with a hot tub, and it does well ($75 per month to service a hot tub), but beware as an investor that guest nightly rates for townhouses and condos will be much lower than houses, as you are starting to compete with hotel chains when you start talking about 2 or 3 bedroom investments. 

Taxes are almost always the largest selling expense you'll face and can very quickly kill your investment's efficiency if you don't manage them intentionally. 

Last year my largest holding FDUS, paid 13.6% dividend and stock also went up 8-9 %, as long as 10 yr flat to rising they make money on their large net interest margin spreads.if you ok with moderate risk, pick good REITS, as a group VNQ they beat sp500 last 20 and 50 yrs by about 1.5-2.0%, and they beat private real estate investors by 2-4% in academic studies as well, that's an average, that doesn't mean REITS outperform the excellent investors here at BP :)Or take out a margin loan and YOLO Bitcoin, no don't do that!

I live on Long Island and are looking to get my feet wet this spring.

Keep it to the top 30 major metro markets (Austin is 30th, so nothing smaller), here is the full list. https://www.thoughtco.com/largest-metropolitan-areas-1435135. 

I wanted to ask, is anyone here actively still flipping Staten Island homes in 2024?

The kitchen is what's sold me in my first house and it'd a great lay out in my current house.My next house I'll be a bit more specific - bigger deeper sinks, pasta faucet even if I only use it once a yesr for a big jug of summer iced tea lol and a dishwasher, walk in pantry are on my check list.I feel other amenities like skylights or big windows, cellars for dry storage would be cool too but I'm not really a big baker or canner lol.Now it's got me thinking - imagine a hidden island?

AirDna seems to be the goto place for rather accurate data.My STR on Dauphin Island generates about 50k yearly. 

For example, in NC the only dark blue areas are the largest counties in the state, even though Brunswick (Wilmington NC) and Pender Counties are growing faster as a percentage of population increase.

Below is a list of the states and their requirements for prepay AL Alabama Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleAK Alaska No N/A N/A N/AAR Arkansas Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleAZ Arizona Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleCA California Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleCO Colorado Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleCT Connecticut Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleDC District of Columbia Yes 2 months interest on prepaid amt that exceeds 1/3 of original UPB36 Months Refinance or saleDE Delaware Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleFL Florida Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleGA Georgia Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleHI Hawaii Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleIA Iowa Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleID Idaho Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleIL Illinois Yes No restrictions None Refinance or sale Borrower must be corporation if interest rate is > 8%IN Indiana Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleKS Kansas Yes No restrictions 6 months Refinance or saleKY Kentucky Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleLA Louisiana Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleMA Massachusetts Yes No restrictions 36 Months Refinance or saleMD Maryland Yes No restrictions 36 Months Refinance or saleME Maine Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleMI Michigan Yes 1% of amount prepaid 36 Months Refinance or saleMN Minnesota Yes Lesser of (i) 2% of UPB or (ii) 60 days of interest 42 Months Refinance only PPP restrictions only apply to loans within conforming limits MO Missouri Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleMS Mississippi Yes 5% of UPB if prepaid in months 1-124% of UPB if prepaid in months 13-243% of UPB if prepaid in months 25-362% of UPB if prepaid in months 37-481% of UPB if prepaid in months 49-6060 Months Refinance or saleMT Montana Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleNC North Carolina Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleND North Dakota Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleNE Nebraska Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleNH New Hampshire Yes No restrictions Refinance or saleNJ New Jersey Yes No restrictions None Refinance or sale Borrower must be corporation if interest rate is > 6%NM New Mexico No N/A N/A N/ANV Nevada Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleNY New York Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleOH Ohio Yes 1% of original UPB 60 Months Refinance or saleOK Oklahoma Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleOR Oregon Yes No restrictions None Refinance or salePA Pennsylvania Yes No restrictions None Refinance or sale Not permitted for loans less than base amount ($312,178)RI Rhode Island Yes 1-4 Purchase: 2% during first year only.Otherwise, no restrictionsPurchase: 12 months Refinance: 60 monthsSC South Carolina Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleSD South Dakota Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleTN Tennessee Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleTX Texas Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleUT Utah Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleVA Virginia Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleVT Vermont No N/A N/A N/AWA Washington Yes No restrictions PPP on ARM cannot extend beyond 60 days prior to the initial rate change dateRefinance or saleWI Wisconsin Yes No restrictions None Refinance or sale No PPP permitted on ARMSWV West Virginia Yes No restrictions None Refinance or saleWY Wyoming Yes No restrictions None Refinance or sale