But in the end, after paying him 2,100.00 he now claims I owe him 4,350.00 -- most of which comprises simple conversational emails, basic updates (some at his request).  

Get great soaps and towels (we use the ikea sheet towels), go ahead and have solid kitchen.

Your tenant should be able to easily clean the tub with a soap and water for the first month.

Hello Everyone, I'm excited to share that I'm currently developing a Mirror Cabin complex comprising 21 units for Short-Term Rental purposes.To support this endeavor, we've initiated a crowdfunding campaign with the aim of covering 15% of our construction costs.

About 20-30 minutes outside of Dallas comprising of a mix of studio, 1 bed/bath, 2 bed, 1 bath, and 2 bed/bath apartments.

Between June and October of last year we completed our first project which comprised of the complete renovation of a 2 family home in New Rochelle NY.

According to the Fannie Mae Home Price Expectations Survey - comprised of 100 experts across the housing and mortgage industry and academia - rates should settle at 5.7%.

You're also looking at the cost of furnishing the unit (mentioned before) and providing incidentals like soap, shampoo, kleenex, toilet paper, etc. 

So what you are looking for are markets and then neighborhoods INSIDE of markets (my best reference is Philadelphia which is a market comprised of micromarkets) that are in that weird transition are between hot-neighborhoods that people are flipping left and right to neighborhoods that are strictly for rentals and long term buy and holds (without refinance) since those areas don't have the inventory for flips. 

Take a look at a couple REITs or other kinds of portfolios and you'll see that they aren't comprised of low tier, high risk, properties.