I often see him comment on threads where Costa Rica is mentioned saying that Costa Rica isn't a good investment compared to the investments that he does for himself and others in countries like Mexico.  

That's easy compared to trying to fight and erroneous $13k water bill (a real issue we had) or an insurance policy tripling (that too).

I recommend comparing lenders to make sure you get some good terms and financing options for your next investment!

I know you are dealing with a 3 month lease rather than a 12 month lease, but for example....Say I rent my home for $2,500 per month and have to lower my rate by $100 to find a quality tenant that is a loss of $1,200 over 12 months compared to a loss of $2,500 for each month it remains empty. 

If you have high W2 income, the amount your STR makes (or loses) will be peanuts compared to the tax savings.

Obviously I want to keep my costs low but still want to spring for amenities that would give me a competitive edge compared to other rentals.

We’re working in a smaller market like Cornelia, GA, where comparable sales data can be limited, and want to make sure we present a strong case to lenders.

Run your own airbnb comps and see how your rates, pics, and amenities, compare to them.

That was a substantial discount compared to my friends who were paying 2k+.

This has been well worth it compared to the 40+ hours I was previously spending doing this myself come tax prep time.