You already have some experience and with additional effort, will quickly climb the REI ladder to its pinnacle.

You already have some experience and with additional effort, will quickly climb the REI ladder to its pinnacle.

The husband did not like this one bit and turned to drinking, destroying our property and not paying rent as a form of sport.  

Real estate is a team sport so it’s great that you are seeking advice just realize a lot of people are just out for themselves and will make sure they profit from the deal vs you.

This is a team sport.  

Bigger houses do well on Airbnb or VRBO in the area, though, as church gatherings, traveling term sports teams, etc are usually looking for bigger places to stay.

The people you meet may have leads, or if they don't right away, giving them a business card or getting theirs and following up at a later date, may give you a referral to someone they know or have talked to since.Go to local sporting events, even games for local elementary schools, high schools, etc. 

You can't watch a sports game without seeing their commercial almost every break, how do you think they pay for it? 

Las Vegas could be a good place to start since your girlfriend already has connections there, though the other states you mentioned—especially Tennessee—could be worth considering as well.Cities like Chattanooga sport particularly affordable properties—tenant-ready single-family homes in the 37406 and 37411 zip codes, for instance, retail for between $150,000 and $200,000 and can achieve monthly rents that approach or exceed the 1% rule.On the whole, Chattanooga’s homes are about 22% cheaper than properties in Las Vegas and 60% more affordable than those in New York City, so it may be worth exploring further.

Real estate is a business, and business is a team sport.