I assume a higher upfront cost as far as land purchase and the actual build but you would have a brand new house, instant equity and hopefully maintenance free for quite a while.

In US tax law, the depreciable lifespan of an asset is defined by its MACRS classification which stands for “Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System.”Under MACRS, depreciable assets are assigned to different classes, with each class having a specific recovery period.

Sewer line backup, ordinance & law, and replacement cost coverage are coverages I include. 

I think there is a common misunderstanding that licensed contractors cost more.

Of course you have to factor in realtor and closing costs on top.

So, it would then potentially cost you a penalty for early withdrawl and also income tax owed on it.

You buy it and now go to look at your beachfront and see a dumpsite of shingles or tires, that will cost you more than the lot is worth to clear out and maybe have the EPA just waiting for someone like you to jump on with fines for the cleanup. 

Self managers can reduce their PM costs significantly. - Furnishings and Design: Active vacation rentals are usually sold furnished, vacant homes are not.

Quote from @Daniel Gould: So it appears to me that while there's a free plan available to anyone in Invelo but the BP Pro membership includes access to the "Starter" Plan which currently costs $41/month otherwise - so this is a notable "value add" to the BP Pro Plan.

You are not paying for their services and won't cost you anything extra anyways.