I am about to close on my first STR in Panama City Beach, and would like to try and get people in there for the winter months to help cover the costs and lessen the maintenance burden. 

Agree that we should have reserves but that is the case for all real estate, buying at lower interest rates lessens that risk in my opinion because you can lower the rents more than the buyer who purchased at 8% interest. 

Correct me if I am wrong but Joe Schmoe with no experience and no education can call himself a financial advisor.There is no governing body that administers the term 'financial planner' so I put litte weight into that title / profession, whether it is fee based / non-fee based. 

This can be quite expensive. 3) Make sure you buy furniture with a high weight capacity. 4) This arrangement doesn't attract the best tenants.

Total rents increased by ~14% (weighted average).

Now if he gets you by the hand and shows you how to buy with no cash and credit, and you are able to buy, then his snake oil is worth it weights in gold, but he will have many excuses his business is selling snake oil not real estate.

It is not easy to find good PM's but when you do they are worht their weight in gold and when you have a bad one you just want to sell the property instead of firing them.

Tell the tenant that his opinion carries zero weight, so he must submit proof from an ACCEPTABLE expert to support his alleged foundation issue.Until then, he will be held liable for the terms of his lease, to the fullest extent of the law.

I would need to keep buying property to lessen the burden, but that is why I am asking for opinions

Results are FAR more weighted on HOW and WHAT a person does then where they do it.