The issue I found when visiting these places is that the nicer suburbs are not much cheaper than some of the cheaper areas of California (many single families are in the high $200,000's/low $300,000's so the draw is not as enticing if I can purchase something in my state for a similar price). 

"This again"  I guess you missed where I said I have been doing DSCR loans for years and have closed 1000's over those years.

@David Neubauer Forming an LLC is smart for liability but can save you taxes if get an S-corp.

Verify how the PMC manages your property and tenant(s).

Have you considered getting a pricelabs subscription and getting a little more in depth #'s on amenities, management experience, review count, pools, view vs non-view, etc?

I’m curious if there are any STR investors in Blue Ridge, GA willing to share their experience(s)?

What we do require is a signed pet agreement that has minimal rules(pick up the crap, flea & tick prevention, etc) and we require that they send a copy of current vaccination records and a picture of the dog(s). 

@Eric SatoSTRs and REPS are not related, as my colleagues mentioned.Here is the introduction:https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/51/topics/1122635-the-s...

Here is some info on that as for"skin in the game".Gift funds are acceptable as 100% down payment for loans <75% LTV/CLTV Gift funds are acceptable for loans >=75% LTV/CLTV; however, the underlying Borrower(s) must contribute at least5% of the transaction (lower of Purchase Price or Appraised Value) from their own fundso Example: A $500,000 purchase price where the LTV/CLTV is going to be 75% or higher would require the borrower to have a $25,000 of their own funds provided ($500,000 x .05% = $25,000)

For example, I’m doing three side by side duplexes and it’s costing me $135 psf, but I had to spend an extra $10k per foundation because of bad soil, and the smaller the property the higher the cost psfI’m working on a 28 unit with elevator, demo required, green roof, and it’ll cost me around the same psf as the duplexes.I’m doing three side by side triplexes which are full renovations, basement digout, all new facades, and that’s costing me about $106 psf for construction Non of these numbers include architecture, geotech, MEPS, environmental, utility plan, or finance costs