"Good" areas will be priced high, "Bad" areas will be priced low. 

Must have tools: you need some type of evaluation metric and/or tool that you are comfortable with and are willing to walk about from a deal if it doesn't meet your requirements.also, a deal is a term for a transaction, not to be confused with a "good deal".

For payments, tools like Stripe, PayPal, or booking software like OwnerRez work well.Happy to connect if you’d like to chat more or need additional tips!

They have lost many employees and the level of service and quality has been dismal.

Are there specific tools, presentations, or approaches that help them feel more confident in taking that first step?

There's a lot more competition than previous years, and prices are high.

I see where Sub2 can and has been a good tool in the right hands.  

Many of my clients are high W2 earners who are taking advantage of the "STR loophole." 

Its proximity to campus, turnkey condition, and rental history make it particularly appealing to investors seeking high cash flow and low vacancy risks.

@David LewisRecommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?