From condos designed to accommodate couples and young families and large lake lodges which house multi-generational parties, to luxurious custom getaway cabins on stilts… investors are seeking properties that align with their guests’ values and aspirations.Aside from STR the influx of remote work has catalyzed a new wave of interest in Branson's real estate market.

Buying with "none of my own money" is what we call being over-leveraged, and deal structures like this is what leads to a huge wave of foreclosures in a downturn.

More difficult to see safe money-making opportunities, so it seems like, from my perspective, listings and contracts are being reported in small waves, as people dip their toes in. 

Wave at people and smile.

As rents increase over the years, your cashflow will soon become positive while you ride the wave of inflation and appreciation! 

To start off I would use wave accounting or excel.

There is free software online too, like Wave which gets a nod from a lot of folks with simple businessesI recommend hiring a bookkeeper if you are going to scale.

You're thinking far further steps ahead and weathering the volatility to reap likely more a fat-tails esque reward which likely does happen at the turn of the next inflation wave(not this secondary one coming up).From 08-16 you could do the former, from 17 fwd it's best to the do the latter.

I always like to have something that reels them in and gets them interested ( short term ), and something for the long haul to keep them happy.i.e, as you mentioned wave application fees, admin fees etc.

.* General accounting platforms: This includes Quickbooks/Quickbooks Online (the 800 pound gorilla), and competitors like Wave, Zoho Books, etc.