Your best bet is probably to get your real estate license and start actively being a real estate professional or buy a STR in your market that you can physically be at on a regular basis. 

Went down to check on trees, select doors, handrails and check out roof.About 3 miles down the road is a premier welding shop. 

Kitchens and bathrooms are always a good bet, but think beyond the basics.

I do see a ton of 2 unit houses on Zillow, so would it be a good bet that these are landlords trying to unload their stock before student housing regs kick in?

I bet if they found a subsurface problem, I would own those. :-)ps.

I bet they were valid.

Your best bet for that size will be local banks and credit unions, good luck.

Your best bet is to read information from public blogs that approach both options objectively.

Plus I bet the contract calls for mandatory mediation.. if the parties cant agree..

Hey @Mike Pepperday, AirBNB and VRBO are your best bet to see what kind of demand there is for STRs in general.