I am not looking to do it as a MTR, and I am looking more to make it a true furnished LTR (1-year lease).Maybe that's not really a thing though? 

This is true for bonus depreciation items as well.  

I don't know if it's true, or a few anecdotal incidences of people having issues with newer homes.

I think you’d be better off getting a true appraisal.

A bit of a bummer but I guess this is the way it goes when we venture into less tried tried and true investments.

Virtually everyone lives somewhere especially true for those that pay taxes (in CA property and income tax).  

The most useful switch I made was from a vendor who kept insisting the water was fine (it wasn't and no, the chemicals didn't just need more time) to a true pro who doesn't gouge us for maintenance and does a consistently great job.

If this is true, the good news is that the property is worth more than the loan balance. 

This is true regardless of how long you have owned a vacation rental. 

True that. 99% of people will stay on the internet, analyzing deals and doing research but when the time comes to pull the trigger on a deal they'll do absolutely nothing.