How are you collecting a deposit, or putting holds on credit cards, for your STR direct bookings?

It should be detailed out in the PPM but generally acquisition fee is based on purchase price, asset and property management fees are based on total collected income (monthly), and disposition fee is based on sale price or, if a refinance, the new loan amount. 

Rent collection apps like Rent App can help, but Venmo may lack the needed features.

Or should I pay for the subscription to make the screening process easier, collecting rent, tracking maintenance, etc?  

When I was ready to buy my first property I made a flow chart of everything that needed to happen from selecting a market right through collecting my first rent check. 

Also, focus on 2 years of job/income stability.Class D Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, all cashflow with zero or negative relative rent & value appreciationVacancy Est: 20%+ should be used to cover nonpayment, evictions & damages.Tenant Pool: majority will have FICO scores under 560, little to no good tradelines, lots of collections & chargeoffs, recent evictions.

Data is still limited on rent collection, late payments, and defaults. 

keep looking and don't give up. when you say you're trying to 'match' your current monthly expense of $3K, I'm assuming you're saying that you're hoping to pay $3K net against the mortgage after collecting rent - is that correct?

This benefits me, because I'll still collect the rental payment and have the ability to evaluate the tenant before anything more long term is signed.

Good luck collecting rents, keeping tenants, and trying to appreciate.