I am just starting out and have 1 STR.Would love hear the pros/cons that you took into consideration when deciding how you want to manage your STR.Self managing STR properties, from afar, while maintaining other employment, is only a possibility because of the new technology made available in the last 10 - 15 years.  

There they are seeing both a great job market, a number of large employers moving in, and are still in the top ten of population growth nationwide. 

Hello Kyle,When screening applications for the properties that I manage, I always look for:- Income of at least 3 times the monthly rent (verified through the employer)- Credit score of 580+- Rental verification with past landlords (no outstanding balances, no late payments, and the property left in acceptable condition)- No history of collections, evictions, or criminal offenses- No overdue debt (except medical debt)I have found this screening standard very helpful when finding tenants who pay on time and treat the property well!

Moreover, I would recommend prioritizing a W2 position over 1099 self-employment/sales for two reasons.

Columbus also has great macroeconomics - lots of job growth, population growth, and major employers developing here.

Multifamily mindset has recruited students from all walks of life such as teachers, medical doctors, veterans, real estate agents, business men, and I was included into a group (multifamily mindset encourages students to form groups) and one of them is a veteran who is divorced, has kids to support, not employed during that time, got a loan of $40,000 for the tuition.

Through my studies, I met my current employer, who owns a construction company where I serve as the Sales Director.

For individuals with full-time jobs in other industries, meeting this threshold is challenging unless real estate is a substantial focus outside regular employment.

I do not know how they are handling new customers verse the Midland existing customers.Regarding the customer service it seems the people I dealt with are still employed and only my "personal rep" as it were, was promoted and another took her place.

In areas like Frisco, Plano, or Arlington, proximity to major employers and universities like TCU or SMU can make a big difference.Stay Curious and PersistentReal estate investing is a marathon, not a sprint.