You can basically benchmark STR and then give a discount for staying months instead of days.

Our experience to help you benchmark:- Bought duplex for $550k in 2010; live in one, the other rent-controlled unit rented for $865/ month (0.3%).  

I do have my own company though, and from that, I know most of the banks I talked to wanted to see 2 years of steady income before they would even consider lending the business money.Hopefully that at least gives you a benchmark.

All you really need is a one page summary that provides the property address, mailing address, 1st and 2nd lien, fair market value (I use the tax assessed as a benchmark as it is posted in the NOD) and finally a ratio that compares the debt to the value...what the NOD programs like Sharkbait are doing is basically pulling all this info out of the Excel file and re-organizing it for you in a user friendly format....and they charge accordingly.

Congratulations Joshua Dorkin for reaching a new benchmark; I wonder how your vision 8 years ago aligns with where you are now?

Normally, one should benchmark a manager's performance to the other managers in the area and give them commission and if they do better. i.e. if it takes 1 week to find a renter in an area X for $800/month and if your manager does the same, then there is no benefit to having a manager as you could do that too.

@Lee Jackson Not knowing is actually a good thing ... it means you are thinking, rather than assuming you have {all the} answers.First, I'll let you know upfront that I and my partner are far from authorities on creative financing - if successfully closed deals are the benchmark.  

They're a fine benchmark, but they stop so many new people from getting going because someone on BP told them that's how you need to invest.

Asset Protection Insurance Agency (APIA) or Benchmark insurance.

This is a common benchmark but I have actual data from the rest of my portfolio to back it up.Vacancy - accounts for when a unit is not rented.