@Vina Merrill,I don't have much intel on Knoxville, but I’m active as an investor, turnkey provider, and builder in Chattanooga.

I have been investing in real estate for the past 15 years but more actively for the past 10 years.

Hi Jon from Boyertown, PA-You and your fiancé are interested in buying your first short-term rental and wonder profitable areas to purchase with a budget up to $500,000.I would look at places along the west coast of Michigan, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and near Ann Arbor, MI.It is important to understand the local STR regulations in each community and partner with a property management company that can help your navigate that and manage it well for an excellent guest experience.Don't forget to look into bonus depreciation and doing a cost segregation study to increase the tax benefits of ownership and if you "materially participate" in the management of the property per IRS guidelines it can offset active W-2 income which most real estate cannot.To Your Success!

Active operators are far more likely to succeed in the entry level SFH space and that's not who buys entry level homes from turn key operators. 

The ZIPs with the most activity?

I've been active in the community for many many years.

If it's more complicated eviction.com may be your best bet to use they are pretty cost effective.

Your better bet may be to bring on an equity partner, just realize that you will probably be giving up 30-50% of the business if you go that route, but in the long run its probably end up doing much better.

Ok so a diff path then my previous post.I also wanted to invest in real estate but just assume( and bet is probably true) that most of the people that find truly good investments have  either or all of the following the most "average joes" don't:1.

I could be wrong, but the only way to make lots of money is to make educated bets and execute them.