Good to e-meet you and would certainly love to grab some time and chat.

So I guess I’m just wondering if anyone out there has every done this kind of renting and what are the ups and downs to it and also do you ya e any tips for me.

I also don't know if 'gross profit' is a standard metric (vs. net income as on line 24 of a schedule E) on STR income statements or not (again, I've never owned/managed this asset class) but on the surface it looks like you would have some direct labor costs (somebody needs to manage the inn, so to speak) and recurring utility costs at a minimum. 

Tenants sit on their phone and hit “inquire about this property” 100 times in a day, then never read the info we e-mail them and almost never answer our calls.  

I currently use Mint with categories matching IRS Schedule E's usual plus tags for each property.

Seller wants a $10k non refundable e-deposit for each property that will be taken off of the cost.

I was able to get the info on GIS data, e-maps viewer.

Stay on the e HVAC company.

If you and your wife file a joint married tax return then that property is being reported on your combined schedule E. 

E.