We are looking to eventually relocate to the States"--that's great, a lot of people want to invest remotely in a totally random market and never go to it.  

In the end, people rely on internet for all sorts of things and you want that to be reliable.

All else being equal, lower mortgage rates reduce the cost of ownership and, thereby, allow more people to afford to buy.

Put your thermostats in lock boxes so people can't jack it way up.

The Ohio market is very strong and competitive, so people struggle to find deals with consistently great margins on flips, etc.

More than anything, real estate is a people business.

My first home was 6% and my wifes was 8%, so people looking at 7% today as crazy - that was normal.

People doing crazy stuff lately.

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.

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.