I have not taken his training but have spoken with him several times about overall real estate investing and he is a realist and does not blow sunshine where you know some people blow it.

Those are not sustainable and realistic appreciation metrics.

Honestly, if you are out of state you should probably be hiring property management regardless of troublesome tenants in the present.i don't know how experienced you are as an investor or if this market you're buying in is one due for exceptional appreciation but realistically $160/mon cashflow is not a move i would suggest in the short term considering you're a world away and any number of things could go wrong that would wipe out a years worth of cashflow overnight. 

I don't think that's a realistic price point for doing what you want.

Based on 1. above determine the maximum amount your willing to pay to avoid a lawsuit and the realistic “target” amount you’d want to pay given what you learned from the attorney consultation3.

A realistic view of the markets and of those offering advice is really needed. 

At least 2-3 times each week, I get a referral or lead for someone wanting to buy an investment property with 5% down that cashflows $23.00/month with an insurance estimate that is half of what's realistic.

•Rental Rates: What can I realistically expect in terms of nightly or monthly rates for short-term rentals?

Similar to what others said, it’s probably not realistic with current rates on most houses to live for free.

@Jack SeidenThank you for the realistic advice, it’s really helpful to get an honest perspective.