@Sam Ferguson - seems like a reasonable cash flow, but precious little room for Capital expenditure or future vacancy allowance. 

They can be cash or jewelry from a safe deposit box, stocks, dormant bank accounts, surplus funds from foreclosures (in NJ there is only unclaimed property/surplus funds from judicial-mortgage foreclosures NOT tax foreclosures).

It gets their attention and saves you precious time on an eviction if needed.  

If you were paying for something say precious metals... often do a EFT to the company... some people do wires when buying a vehicle/etc vs showing up with cash. 

Maaan, do I know your pain of spending precious time, money, and psychic energy training a salesperson, only to have them jump ship because something newer and more shiny came along.Mad ARRGH!

If you do decide to do STRs in 29 Palms, please encourage your guests to respect the neighborhood, be quiet, keep garbage under control, and limit light pollution to keep those precious dark, star-filled skies. 

Beach locations are rare and precious. 

We did all this which took precious time and money to solve.Needless to say we always triple check a property will be vacant before closing escrow now or hold back significant money until it is.

Insurance will pay for most stuff, but we lost baby pictures, clothes, inherited jewelry, .... priceless items!

I have been burnt twice, once I got majorly robbed with all my jewelry in a safe - $20,000. from ex roommate, the other left without paying rent and left me with no roommate for 3 months.Now the potential tenant wants his $100 back.