What documents do they require, what credit scores do they allow, how do they verify previous rental history, etc.?

This is not a wild comparison unless you ignore history. 

But we made one decision that history may one day show was the wrong choice--our rate is floating. 

With that being said, you can build a successful STR if you win on two fronts (to simplify it)The real estate side and the hospitality side (operations).The real estate side is buying a very good deal in a market that has a history of vacation rentals in my opinion. 

But you know that... your post history shows you've had that same issue already.

to be clear on my journey here. i am new to wholesale. this was my first cold call to a seller. the ARV is 2.5 to 2.6. i have some rental properties that i cash flow on currently.in my recent history of buying properties to flip, i keep getting outbid on off market deals.  

We moved our two daughters, Taylia & Lyric to Overland Park, Kansas to be closer to family and the market just wasn't as "easy" as it was for us in NYC. 

Hello my daughter and I are interested in building or buying a four Plex in Vegas or Henderson.

Natural disaster history and insurance options8.

One thing that I look at is the sales history of the property.