I take a picture of their driver's license.I ask for phone numbers that accept texts and any alternate land or business phone numbers.I ask for the names and birth dates of anyone under 18, and ask if there are any service / emotional support animals, together with their names and breeds.I also ask for personal references, previous landlord contact info (and length of time there), employer contact info (and how long there, together with earnings), as well as the name and contact information for their manager / boss.

I'd focus on deciding what you want to do (flip-high risk, but potentially high return...or large loss; short term rental-more work, but higher return than long term rental; long term rental-less work than the other two, but lower return).Once you've decided which you want to do, then focus on getting the best house to meet your goal. 

Hello All,We are building  a house for sale and need to decide on the kitchen layout.

Getting a rental license as an out-of-state investor is doable, but you’ll need to manage inspections and compliance.

The #1 reason that Landlords fail, according to the American Apartment Owners' Association, is the landlord's failure to manage to the lease.  

I used to help manage 30+ STRs in the city with a McSwain Management.

Instead of a co-host can you just get a property manager that specializes in it?

@Venka Pulla It’s frustrating when a property manager isn’t meeting expectations, but transitioning to a new property manager is typically straightforward if you follow a few steps:Review the Management Agreement: Carefully read your current Property Management Agreement (PMA) to understand the termination process, including any required notice period.

Whichever method of lead generation you decide on, aim to establish and maintain a relationship with prospective sellers. 

Cash flow depends on the down payment, but using a HELOC could keep your cash reserves intact while you get started.Make sure to build a reliable team (property managers, agents, etc.) to help you manage the property while working full-time.