On the other hand, a recession could cause mortgage rates to go down more but it will likely not drop to COVID levels or even the levels we saw during the foreclosure crisis, unless the Feds start up with Quantitative Easing again.

While it’s true that most agents gauge a potential client’s seriousness by the existence or absence of a pre-approval letter, I think you can ease concerns by being honest with agents and voicing a preference to receive a lender recommendation from a trusted partner - which is what your agent should be from beginning to close.

Seems like most condos only allow STR through their own management for a hefty fee, but the ease of not having to worry about advertising and listing sounds nice. 

I understand the tension of customers not wanting to constantly give everything up front for fear of the contractor having no incentive to work quickly, and even worse the possibility of them running off with the cash...but in the same breath the contractor wants to be certain that the customer is in fact going to pay, and pay in a timely manner.

Alternatively, once the existing tenant is out, you can lease at market rate.The real challenge of "non-landlord friendly" areas in the form of: your ability to adjust their rent from one lease term to the next, rent control issues that would limit your ability to ever push rent increases over time, any mandates on required renewal options for existing tenants (typically come with rent control measures) and the ease and speed with which evictions are processed. 

LVP is a great way to harden and still keep the ease of replacement and repair. 

You e definitely put my mind to ease.

(there also seems to be tension on whether they are just 'pandering,' or are genuinely believed in. 

I’m interested with the supposed ease and quickness they claim to open and use said card.  

This will help alleviate some of the tension between tenants.