The key is building a reliable local team—property managers, realtors, and contractors you trust.

Cleveland and Dayton can be great markets for high cash flow and low purchase prices, but you need to be careful when navigating the neighborhoods so you're not buying in a D/F class area where no property managers will manage and where you'll never see any positive cash flow.

So now I have both my personal residence and a leased property as STRs.Even though I live 3 hours away from my leased STR property, I've built a team that assists with managing it, so I don't have to be there all the time.Here are some key things I've learned:Regulations: Research the specific STR regulations in the state and city where you're looking to buy.

Curious if there are software options for managing both types of rentals.

that we’ve learned in our 24 years, managing almost 700 doors across the Metro Detroit area, including almost 100 S8 leases:Class A Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, 3-5 years for positive cashflow, but you get highest relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% the more recent norm.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 680+ (roughly 5% probability of default), zero evictions in last 7 years.Class B Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, decent amount of relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% should be applied only if proper research done to support.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 620-680 (around 10% probability of default), some blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 5 yearsClass C Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, high cashflow and at the lower end of relative rent & value appreciation.

Some property managers will look at other factors, not just your credit score.

It is also worth noting that property management is often closer to 30% of gross rent for a short-term rental due to the much more intensive hands-on management compared to a typical 10% for long-term and as such, I agree with recommendations above that medium term rentals may provide the best of both worlds if you are able to tailor proximity to a local need, e.g. hospitals and travel nurses.Again, happy to relay my personal experiences in the area if you're interested.Best of luck,Patrick

Try interviewing at least three managers.1.

@Juliann Morala Yep, a buyers agent that works exclusively with investors will have all the info you need and lots of options on contractors, lenders, attorneys, inspectors, property managers.

I talked to Padsplit and they manage SFHs renting each room to different tenants - the total rent is more than renting it out to one household.