Checkout some of the great Vrbo tools like market maker.You can see demand, occupancy of your competition for certain dates.The boost function can move you up in the search results for certain dates and it will also show you where you are in the search results for any dates you choose.I get most of my bookings from Vrbo and people always find me on there.

It's a reality that amplifies the importance of conservative underwriting.In the last few years, the market became so competitive that many investors resorted to aggressive underwriting to justify their deals.

It’s like winning lottery - you take lump sum or annualWhen people say well banks do it, the banks can make a $100,000 loan with only $10,000 (fractional lending - which you and I cannot do).

Padslip has that model, it is a kind of the competition for people who do house hacking :PGood Luck in your search and investment. 

I am also not adept to design, and pay a designer especially in today's competitive market. 

I don’t know if that is something I want to start with all of the competition right now.

You should keep it to yourself though, if you get all the BP'ers buying in there, you will have more competition, fewer great deals for you :-)

What we are seeing is a massive increase in the number of properties for sale which has resulted in more competition between sellers and more of a balanced market than we've seen in a long time.If we continue to have a high number of properties for sale and a shortage of active and able buyer's then we should have some really solid buying opportunities even if the overall market doesn't drop. 

Once the current glut of new supply is absorbed, there is nothing in the pipeline, creating a 3-5 yr window of lower competition.  

We are able to book at a higher occupancy and at a higher nightly rate then our competition in the same area.