My two cents on short term rentals:The closer in to urban centers you are, the less of a seasonal fluctuation you experience in vacancies.Investors should know upfront that successful short term rentals are full time jobs.

If your principle paydown is fluctuating by $25-$40 each month but not consistently increasing, then it sounds like you don't have an amortized loan.

Unless there are big players involved, it would take a while for you to see significant fluctuation in home values IMO.

Fluctuations in earnings and returns for investors who already have a lot of money ( millions ) is not something they want to stomach.

My hours fluctuate but I'm making good money and my bills are getting paid.

But if you bought that same house from her for $350k, the following year, you could expect the taxes to be closer to $7k, then fluctuate with the market after that.As far as maintenance, it really depends.

HVAC units fluctuate in price during different times of the year.

If you were positive cash flow, you would just bank the cash, build up your capex/contingency fund and ignore the market fluctuations. 

Sure you have fluctuation in currency (can go both ways) but investing in real estate overseas has similar risks, and if you are not a citizen your have very little protection, unless of course you are a foreigner investing in the U.S.!

But missing every time just before major market fluctuations?