As with ANY business, knowing your customer is critical, because it will inform all sorts of important decisions (like the type of property you buy, how much you charge for rent, the types of amenities you offer, etc.).

I have done many deals with my clients buying from these sorts of folks..

Either by Deed transfer on death (if available in your state), some sort of trust setup, master lease with purchase option, etc. 

There are so many people out there with podcasts, channels, followings etc saying all sorts of things.

Guests, just like those at your personal residence, require all sorts of amenities we don't often think of beyond the heating, cooling, water, waste, electricity and internet that hosts are responsible for.

This is our first tax year with any sort of real estate investments on there to influence our tax hit for 2017.

I'm about to put an offer on a duplex southeast of Childrens Hospital, sort of in/near 'southern orchards'. 

Let them sort out the deposit themselves.

Many investors want to invest in a specific property in a specific location - they prefer to know what they are buying as opposed to not knowing what specific properties they will own thru a REIT.At the end of the day, each investor needs to sort thru those issues for themselves.

A basic 3/2 in the Orlando area offers nothing extra so you have to go crazy on themed rooms and all sorts of cool stuff.