Before buying or renting in an unfamiliar neighborhood, you should check the following two sites: SpotCrime, AreaVibes,These sites provide valuable information, including Livability Scores, which cover aspects such as crime rates, employment, health, housing, schools, shopping, and more.well, anything can happen anywhere.

I don't overcharge but I stay competitive.No ID verification.

There have been a ton of warning signs here on BP and other sites about the markets and how to be a smarter investor - but that is boring advice.

From the calculators I've looked at, it seems like it makes more sense very-long-term to hold on, but I'd love other's thoughts/resources (I'm not passionate about passing on as-much-as-possible to my kids when I die).From a blog post on this site about when to sell, one of the factors was when things have appreciated more than the rents in the area- but I wasn't sure when it was 'enough.'

One thing you might think of doing is having and promoting your own website to avoid the exhorbitant fees charged by the third party sites such as Expedia, Booking.com and Air BnB.  

At first, I looked at the various real estate crowdfunding sites.

Close to a cool little town, close to an area attraction, etc....Also do a search here and see how to screen guests, in addition to what the hosting sites do.... like no last minute bookings, no short stays....

For example, if I purchase a site entitled to 100 dwelling units under a newly formed holding company and the only thing linking me to it is a shared PO box mailing address on the holding entity, the lender gets alerted.

We do land entitlement so we control all sites and tie them up until zoning is approved. we don't buy land that we can't entitle first

I have never used that site.