@V.G Jason said it well, don't chase an unrealistic dream. 

I don't go to any of these events personally its seems like its a circuit and you have basically all the same players on stage as experts I don't know how much anyone can get out of these events ( i have spoke at many in years past so i know you can only gloss over stuff).

It reminds me of a buddy of mine in San Diego who realized early on that the investors who stuck around longest weren’t just chasing the best cap rate..they were sticking with him because he made them feel like they were part of something that actually mattered.

The fact is there are more money and guests than ever in the STR world and this is attracting bigger players who will crash existing hosts if they don't adapt to the new ecosystem. 

On a 5 block walk to get to Chase Field, there was exactly ONE possibly 'homeless person' and he was playing the guitar for everyone.100%, this has been my experience. 

If it’s in California they will chase you for state income tax if you ever sell your new property, even if you exchange out of state. 

Also, I recommend you have a banking relationship with Wells and Chase prior to shopping if that's the route you're definitely going to take. 

That kind of networking plus honest cash-flow analysis can open more doors than simply chasing rumored off-market listings.Interestingly, I recently saw a property here in Phoenix (ARMLS #6757476) that sold for around $450K in October 2021, then resold in December 2024 for $1.8 million.. that’s an eye-popping $1.35 million jump in just three years.

The focus should be on eliminating vacancy and avoiding chasing unreasonable rental rates, especially in the slower winter months.Here’s a chart showing the median sales price of a single-family home in the City of Austin this year through November:The median sales price for a single-family home in November 2024 was up roughly 8% from the beginning of the year.

Regarding selling these, there is a mortgage note forum here that you can learn to see who the players are in the space.