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

The biggest employer shut down about a year ago and 3  hurricanes (2 major) hit directly in the last year.

Pairing that with relationship-building will help you uncover off-market opportunities and find local experts who can guide you.For meetups, here are a few ideas:Indianapolis Real Estate Investors Association (Indy REIA): They have a mix of virtual and in-person events and are a good starting point for networking with other investors in the Indy market.Louisville Real Estate Investors Group (REIG): A similar organization for the Louisville market, with educational and networking opportunities.Check out BiggerPockets Meetups: Many cities have local meetups organized by investors active on BiggerPockets, and they often include virtual options.Facebook Groups: Look for local investing groups like "Indianapolis Real Estate Investors" or "Louisville REI."

@Deirdre Lizio like any business, you will encounter customers that:1) Appreciate great service and are willing to pay for it2) Appreciate great service, but are price sensitive3) Only care about the lowest price, yet unrealistically expect great service4) Multiple variations of the above...Unfortunately, the majority of us default to #3:(

To the nuts and bolt question of what defines occupancy, it is the place you reside and spend the majority of your time/nights.

That way you know they are active in the BP community!

I find the vast majority of my stays are families that love the games and 30-40% of the time they bring their pet as well.

But it’s clear you’re a smart investor who knows the long-term benefits real estate can bring.I keep reminding myself why I stick with real estate: you can make money every month in four different ways:Cash Flow – Passive income to live on.Appreciation – Long-term property value growth.Depreciation – Tax benefits that reduce your taxable income.Tenants Paying Down the Mortgage – Even if you’re paid off now, this is one of the biggest wealth-building tools for leveraged properties.It sounds like your main struggle is the stress of active management—and trust me, you’re not alone.

Padsplit may also be an option if you want to be a little less active in managing. 

@Scott Goulet if that's the case and there is no significant difference in occupancy, then my gut tells me that it is not a major factor that guests consider and are willing to pay a premium for.