Purchasing a STR in a somewhat sketch area is a terrible idea and as others have mentioned, is going to open you up to potential issues. 

They are far more common now and harder to find models without but:1) these add cost to the purchase price2) they don't bring a lot of value3) they can leak or detach and damage the propertyI own around 50 doors and I cap off the line at the wall or in the basement with a valve and a cap so the potential for leaks is 0.00001% :-) 

Asa result, we are seeking alternative methods for acquiring off-marketproperties.While we havedeveloped a robust system for identifying and pre-qualifying potential landparcels, one of the major hurdles we face is reaching the property owners.

Cities like these offer untapped potential without the intense competition found in larger metros.3.

Post on local Facebook pages for contractor referrals, go to local REIAs, and ask your potential agents and PMs (even if not using a PM at first...you may at some point).There is only so much that service providers can do and many of them are far from "experts"; so, be prepared to be your own expert at being willing to figure stuff out as you move forward.

But it's not for everyone, especially the weather.Regarding starting a PM business, I would want a less mature market that has a lot of growth potential.

Do you believe in it’s mid to long term growth potential?

The renovation aimed to modernize the property, enhance its appeal to potential tenants, and maximize its long-term value.

We've had several situations where a potential client would tell us what we want to hear.

You're right that it's getting tougher to find solid cash-flowing properties ($600 or more) in Grand Rapids, but the appreciation potential of a single-family home or duplex in Grand Rapids would be much better than that of a mobile home.