@Allan C. is correct in using your high income to quickly get your seed money.Target appreciation: Look for properties in up-and-coming markets or those with potential for renovation to increase their value.

In that case you should get an attorney involved as encroachment would be a material issue that if known should have been disclosed both to the broker and to any potential buyer.  

Also, ask your agent for recommendations—they often have relationships with dependable contractors.Look for areas with a mix of affordability and growth potential.

So now I'm faced with the potential of loosing EVERYTHING job, house, car, wife...Finally I stopped focusing on what was wrong and focused on the solutions. 

If it's a long-term play, the potential savings on PMI with a conventional loan could be significant.Have you compared rates for both options?

I’d recommend keeping the funds separate for each property to avoid any potential co-mingling issues.

I'd go on ABnB and see what your competition is doing that you can copy.Maybe a Firepit out front (as long as it's not a fire hazard), maybe a cornhole set?

Nothing in the STR space is one size fits all, but the ideas can help others see the potential in their property. 

These systems are becoming more sophisticated and (my favorite) capable, leading to improved user experiences and potentially freeing up human employees to handle more complex tasks and interactions.

Not sure why that happen, however the best way to screen a potential tenant is to see how they have performed in the past.