I go the STR route because I have a lot of other investments in play and I can absorb if things go south.

David, the amount you will have to spend to locate the property (run adds, put up signs, buy lists and etc) is not comparable to the amount you would have to invest if you wanted to personally buy that property, hire a crew to fix it and absorb the costs of owning that property before you could sell it.

We try to absorb these increases where we can, but now we must increase your rent by $X.  

The remaining 25% of the gross rent will be absorbed by vacancy losses and ongoing maintenance expenses.When using a lease agreement, the lease agreement amount must be supported byForm 1007 or Form 1025, as applicable, orevidence the terms of the lease have gone into effect.

Maybe someone else has a solution but from what I can see it's just a cost you'll have to absorb. 

There are some situations where a well-seasoned investor can borrow 100% of the purchase price and come out smelling like a rose, but only because they have the experience and they can absorb the loss if they screw up.Increase earnings.

Sellers won't list because they have 3% mortgages and won't want to trade those, or won't be willing to have to absorb price cuts so they'll be knocked out.

There is so much information for agents that it can be easy to absorb and not apply.

As aforementioned; its crucial you understand the advice you are absorbing.

All the while family isn't helping even when they can and the tenant isn't helping themselves because they still buy smokes/weed but hey the landlord should absorb that cost?