I am watching him because he has some great insights and his failures will keep me from making those same mistakes.I'm doing my first STR in North Phoenix (Near Scottsdale) in a $725,000 5 bed 3 bath full house with pool that I bought and I'm using high end design, so my experience will be totally different than his.

So bottom line... is this a fairly secure investment to test the waters for me into this space?

There will always be water intrusion with stone/rock.

This is all before title, tax, conveyance fee's, water hold, etc.

@Michael CaiThere are a few good markets in Georgia, but there is one that is blowing them all out of the water right now! 

I cannot tell you after buying a property how many things come out of the woodwork like roof repairs, electrical repairs, new hot water heater etc. 

I tried tenant gardens on my house hack and it cost me (tenants leaving water on, attracting wild animals, wasn't taken care of, list goes on)Lastly, what is your plan for funding?

Define your buy box - recommend a small property, no pool, not too many issues, not in a bad flood zone (in Houston that is defined as AE).

New sewer, electrical, electrical panel, mini split, tankless water heater, plumbing, flooring, kitchen, bathrooms, turf, driveway, hardscape, etc.

You are leaning away from the typical design to attract the widest buyer pool and now getting into a niche buyer pool that will be picky for all the right reasons.