I called my local Probate Court and the Court Clerk but they had no idea what I was talking about or where and why this information would be public and referred me to contact each individual estate.Has anyone utillized a Lead source online for probates that is reliable?

Well that's not great, its basically comparable to calling the phone book.

My average is around $160-170/night for a 3/2 lake view, which is low compared to other markets I'm in.

Sure, private lenders can often be a great solution for overcoming these challenges since they offer: Flexible Terms: Private lenders are more flexible with loan terms compared to traditional banks.

I checked AirDNA, and there is a comparable nearby that grosses $80k annually.

However, the previous landlord permitted them to take over an additional 3,000 square feet on the second floor, which is now filled with inventory and unusable for other purposes.While this tenant has been reliable and has a long-standing relationship with the property, their occupancy of this extra space is limiting our ability to maximize rental revenue.

It can definitely be a bit overwhelming at first, but a great way to make it smoother is to build a solid team that can work with you across different states.Having a reliable lender is especially important—they can help guide you through the nuances of different markets and make sure you’re making the best financial decisions.

Short term rentals tend to have a higher yield (quick money) but higher turn over, long term rental lower yield or cap rate (long money) but more reliable tenants. 

Check out Furnished Finder to see if there are any comparable MTRs and their rate in the area. 

For example, if you are looking to get $1,000 a month and all the available rentals on Zillow have hardwoods for a comparable-sized property/ unit you would want to add hardwoods.