It sounds like you're dealing with a potentially suspicious situation. 

Communicating timelines and expectations upfront can help prevent losing good prospects to other properties.I'd say it's a potential red flag if they want to sign the lease without viewing it.

Additionally, your brother would inherit your cost basis in the property, which could result in significant capital gains tax if he sells the property later.

Happy to chat...being a local GC takes out a lot of the risk of the biggest variable for most investors (unpredictable rehab costs) and also allows you to consider more options than the average investor, with your rehab costs being significantly lower.

At that class of property, the turn overs are costly. 

I would say it depends on the cost of the STR.

Seems like a property that isn't going to appreciate rapidly so cashflow will be vital to its investment potential.

Quote from @Erick Pena: A "good" rental property is one that covers all expenses (mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance, property management fees, and any other costs) and still leave a surplus (commonly referred to as cash flow).Calculate cash flow as: Cash Flow = Rental Income − Operating Expenses − DebtThere's much more to it, but that's the basic idea.

They have carrying costs.

I am doing my best to accommodate and fix the insulation as well as see if there are programs in place to lower the cost. however i want to be firm with tenant as they are not compliant with paying rent because of the cost of the utilities.