I have my sister who will be helping me to manage projects.

I myself have a 1/1 apartment on Davis Islands near the hospital that I'm considering renting to traveling nurses.The problem with rental arbitrage is that you need leverage as the renter to negotiate assignable lease terms with your landlord.

Travel and per diem will be included. 

Another option if you are looking to rent rooms and there are hospitals in your area is to market to travelling nurses, using a website like https://www.furnishedfinder.com/  These are shorter term leases, usually about 3 months, and you are renting to professionals who are in an area for work.

It is not, it has limited application, and for travel expenses it does not apply at all.If you do not have a mileage log, you have to do your best good faith estimate and then pray that you're not audited.

Also check out BiggerPockets sister site for passive investments: www.passivepockets.com 

I would like to convert the garage into a one bedroom and rent either to another long term tenant or mid term (30 day min for professors or traveling nurses). 

I was able to travel down and see the property just before closing. 

He rented the stores for office use, like a travel agency, and the other to a video store, when a barber shop of many years closed up.

I am trying to get a quote from Mercury for our sister home not rental but Mercury seems to deny it because the home is old built in 1969 in Elk Grove, CA.