You may also have to get your "hands dirty" in order to make these properties look nice or up to your standards. 

We’re wondering if these fees and processes are standard for short-term rentals.

These capital gains are taxable income at the standard tax bracket ranges.Long-term capital gains: Property assets you hold for 12 months or more before selling.

The investors that are buying into this development are very quality high and once the builder is out and the homeowners over the HOA, it will be a really well run system.

This property you are looking at is either a bad deal or is standard. 

Two wage earners are going to have an easier time making rent than a family where there is only one paycheck, depending on how high such paychecks are, and in both cases you would look at the total household income.Stick to your guns on what you said you wanted, but when you are not in the heat of the situation reevaluate your standards to make sure they are still serving you well. 

Trying to find quality subcontractors and writing proper contracts I would not recommend for somebody outside of the construction industry.

Hiring a bookkeeper to watch the income/expenses is like hiring a gardener to tell you how many roof shingles are laying on the ground after a wind storm instead of hiring a roofer to repair the roof.I recommend that you look for a quality property manager who can maintain the properties and help with the bookkeeping.Start by going to www.narpm.org to search their directory of managers.

Right now any market where 1% rule is met the properties most likely would be in C and below neighborhoods.If you are a long distance investor (like me) I would recommend staying in B class areas where tenant quality would be little better, you might have to sacrifice cash flow a little but you have better shot at appreciation. 

% of the Gross rents allocated to maintenance in the past 3 years# of Global turnovers of portfolio under managementMarketing:What is your marketing strategy to find quality Tenants?