And yes, we always coordinate our visits with the tenants and send an email ahead of time explaining what we do and where we'll look.  

I love San Antonio, I am lucky enough to visit there when I was in the military service. 

Could be some casino visits to Choctaw. 

There are tons of markets where $150,000 could be enough to cash flow, but I'd highly recommend visiting areas before you invest. 

I would avoid that "guru" - a good property manager can make or break your investing career and I can definitely assure you that you're not finding a great PM using thumbtack!

I hear this even in popular podcasts like Thanks for Visiting where they recently have been interviewing very seasoned, successful MTR hosts and keep asking 'but what about the risk of squatters??'

Like you're pointing out, it's nice to find a location that's early in that cycle.For most STR buyers here in Colorado, your motivation better be as-much-or-more to have a place to visit in the mountains because you're cash-flowing a little but nothing spectacular. 

There are few places as iconic to visit or invest as the Pacific Coast in the US and the coastal stretch of Oregon is no exception.

My husband's family is from there and we go visit them often from our home in the suburbs of Minneapolis. 

It's a house we love and have visited many times.