A place that is easy (and hopefully) inexpensive for you to travel to a couple times per year to check in on things.  

You need to send him a letter with proof of delivery required (a cheap date with US postal service) and you can also post the Notice in a sealed white envelope marked confidential to his door - and take a photo of it for proof of delivery. 

If you can do it, in ground all the way.Nothing screams cheap like an above ground pool.

I’ve been researching options like offering fully furnished rentals for traveling professionals or executives, especially with major employers expanding their footprints in the region.

Additionally, the price point is still cheap enough to find the 1% rule and positive cash flow and it's super landlord friendly (so you will never have to go through a 12 month eviction or anything close to that!).

One golden rule I follow,if it takes a long time to fix/replace when it breaks, don't buy a cheap one.Imagine, this thing breaks in the middle of your peak season and the people who can come out to rebuild are 2 weeks out....It takes at least a day or two to build something like this even if you are super skilled.

Boots on the ground is hyperlocal, and what you're looking for is essentially cheap labor that can open a door when you need it.

I worked with a travel nurse who does shift work and 5 lenders said that they couldn’t finance her primary residence purchase and I ended up making it happen for her. 

@Asim G. if owners weren't so short-sightedly cheap, PMC's wouldn't be doing this!

I do shy away from small cheap houses - 3/1 or 2/1 in bad areas or that are on a pier and beam type foundation.