What is your expected appreciation and what is the data to back that up (e.g. how confident are you in you answer)?

Quote from @Andrew Steffens: I think going into an STR purchase with reasonable expectations of cashflow in this current market and rate environment is admirable. 

@Jared FisherRecommend exploring as many sources as possible to get referrals AND cross-reference them to get as much accurate information as possible.Check out NARPM.com, BP’s Property Manager Finder (BiggerPockets: The Real Estate Investing Social Network), etc.Also, encourage you to learn from the mistakes of others - by reading posts here on BiggerPockets about owners not having their expectations met by their current Property Management Company.

Otherwise, you will have to explain the large deposit and possibly the source of the funds to buy the crypto.You can expect to need about 20 percent of the overall costs of the purchase and rehab.

For example if rent is $2,500, you would expect total gross income of 7,500/month if my criteria is 3x income?

I’m excited to take my first steps into real estate investing and have decided to focus on Pittsburgh for my first property.I’d love to hear your thoughts on:*Neighborhoods or areas in Pittsburgh that are good for investment and typical price ranges I should expect.

Have you ever filled out an maintenance/cap ex spreadsheet with expected lifespan and expected replacement costs to try to accurately estimate sustained maintenance/cap ex.I already know you did not accurately project increased insurance costs. 

Also know that building a home seldom goes as expected - I have relatives that just built a nicer house… they thought it would take 9 months… it literally took 18-24 months between delays in permitting and the builder just not being able to get it done in a timely manner - often due to sub-contractor issues.  

It takes longer than expected when doing most of the renovation yourself.

I have not familiarity with any of those markets, have just saw a tone of videos about Baltimore and seems like they numbers work out and I have seen prices incredibly low for a home to rehab and remodeled house higher than I would expect.