@Keith Nugent  Yes, I've felt fortunate to live in Hood River ever since arrival, though every winter I step off the plane into Florida soil, pale and weak, I do question why to not live there. 

My house is brand new and has dark hard wood floors, white cabinetry, quartz counter tops, stainless steel, and pale grey paint throughout so I have no remodeling to do, "just" to furnish it.Can anyone talk about furnishing a new house to be used a vacation home (most of the time, for now).

However, the importance of those two pales in comparison to the importance of persistence. 

I do think pale grays are more elegant than beige, and look more up to date.Now, for my vacation rentals here in Florida, I'm using a lot of (re-tints to look like) Sherwin-Williams Sea Salt and Benjamin Moore Beach Glass, both blue-green-grays, along with SW Zircon- a pale gray, all with bright white trim.

Quote from @Michael Paling: I'd suggest finding a local investor to sit down with and chat about this.

Quote from @Michael Paling: It looks like you've accounted for all the right expenses.

Quote from @Michael Paling: If you haven't already, I think you'd get some really good insight by just going and talking to some local bank lenders.

There are costs for that, but costs to get a site up and running pale in comparison to direct-mail and home purchases.

I've travelled through both of South Chicago and Detroit east side extensively (guess I had a death wish), and South Chicago does not even pale in comparison to Detroit! 

Quote from @Michael Paling: what do you mean by "protecting against fall/winter"?