And if my view is correct, it'll be even more pronounced.I highly recommend quality, then quantity in this era and going forward.

I guess to get a definite answer I'll have to cold call to get see if all these people are behind on their payment or it's just a standard practice behind some salesmen!

I would maybe recommend reaching out to another CPA or two to get an idea of the cost in your area and with your situation to see if you're overpaying.

I recommend doing both. 

If you want to get into MTR or STR I have better markets to recommend.

I recommend you read "Long-Distance Real Estate Investing" by David Greene.

Quote from @Karen Faulkner: Wondering what you would recommend as a better investment than STR or is STR still a viable investment?  

Quote from @Mikal Toliver: It’s an exciting time go learn, understand, and practice real estate estate investing.

With a budget of $300K-$400K, you could potentially find single-family homes or small multi-units in those areas.I'd recommend researching rental demand near universities like Duke or NC State or even checking out neighborhoods with strong job growth near tech hubs.

Recommendation on how to find a honest,  agent in the Cleveland,Ohio area.