But also was a costly lesson for me.

She is a real estate agent but rents so no property to place a lien on.1.

That's three months of mortgage and utilities, the cost of flooring, and the cost of painting.

Your property manager should be supplying monthly reports and year end PnL reports that you give directly to your CPA. 

My personal experience is that Baselane has all of the needed features to manage LTR and STRs and also comes without the cost.

How much does it cost to buy down rate per %?

Business Continuity: If you invest with partners, a properly structured key person insurance or buy-sell agreement funded by life insurance can ensure a smooth transition if one partner is no longer around. 

Also, VA loans allow for 100% financing with no PMI, and are more forgiving in low/moderate credit score scenarios.

It frustrates me when people say, "there are no good deals" or, "can you send me a good deal" but never define it. - What price point can you afford?

If they tenant is $300 below market, that's costing you $3,600 a year.