I don't disagree that it is a good tool for someone just starting.Now, should folks be using such tools in the first place?

He's an agent with RE/MAX, one of the largest franchises with a great training program and a lot of tools for their agents to use and build a successful business.

You have the tools and mindset that work with larger scale commercial so I would network until you meet someone who may let you run some of their deals with them and see what they look like in person.

One word of caution: the court orders typically allow repairs to make a home habitable, i.e. rent-ready, but not cosmetic or similar non-essential repairs, like upgrades or additions.

I bet that essentially no one is starting new construction projects, which bodes extremely well for owners 2-4 years from now.- Prices for insurance policies will never go back down, but it is not unreasonable to expect costs to rise at a more predictable pace from here.

What is Evernest even doing if all of us property owners are the ones essentially managing things?

Tools like BiggerPockets Calculators and rent estimation tools are incredibly helpful.

Essentially it was necessary to "buy" cash flow with a higher down payment. 

If you decide to revisit STRs, you might want to explore properties where you can project expenses independently, such as using local STR forums or online tools to estimate maintenance, management, and occupancy costs.For networking and strategy-building, you might find local meetups or groups beneficial.

It looks like Privy is a great tool for identifying investment properties by using up to date MLS data.