Lower priced markets in central valley have better rent/price but lower appreciation compared to bay area.   

Are multi-family rentals a strong investment in the Tampa area compared to condos/apartments?

I can help with some of the repairs if you are looking for reliable contractors.

You are trying to compare oranges and potatoes, this is not appropriate here.

We don’t know any PMCs to recommend in the area mentioned, but since selecting the wrong PMC is usually more harmful than selecting a bad tenant, you might want to read our series about “How to Screen a PMC Better than a Tenant”:https://www.biggerpockets.com/member-blogs/3094/91877-how-to-screen-a-pmc-better-than-a-tenant-part-1-services-and-processesWe recommend you get management contracts from several PMCs and compare the services they cover and, more importantly, what they each DO NOT cover.

I have had this occur with cabinets, flooring and other materials made from overseas that the product testing compared to the in field testing of the product were very different. 

Private lenders or bridge lenders may also be a good fit, as they tend to offer more creative solutions compared to traditional banks.

I know the tools aren't always 100% reliable due to bad data so I'm curious if anyone here as experience with STRs in Albuquerque.It also seems like STR regulations aren't super strict at the moment - need to register for a permit and comply with various rules around occupancy limits, acknowledgements, etc - nothing too crazy.

Now this might be an unpopular answer compared to my colleagues but it might not be necessary just yet especially if you're savvy and know a bit about taxes. 

Previous landlords and personal references not reliable most of the time for the information you are looking for.