I learned the drywall was cracking in October, but I'm not local to it so I wasn't checking it regularly.   

I'd much prefer to put $60K on a down payment and closing costs so I have $50K to fix it up.So a couple of questions: 1) Am I mistaken in thinking those kind of lower down payment products are out there for regular folks like us? 

Just FYI :-)Yeah I know Simpson makes a structural screw for hangers now, with a hex head, but I’ve been seeing a lot of regular deck screws used lately and obviously if they’re not structural they don’t have the shear strength needed to support a deck.

I train my team to not waste their time snaking if they can’t fix it in 10 minutes and just replace it since toilet is under $300 (I use $120 Costco ones) but yeah these things are difficult to know for regular hosts.Besides that, it is unfortunate but I kinda see why Airbnb made that decision.

If you win but the guest then appeals it, Vrbo washes their hands of it and you lose. 

As best as I can tell on both sites, the algorithm looks something like this:Cheapest price>least restrictions (cancellation, # of days minimum, etc)>Premier/Super host>Review Scores>Most discounts (weekly, last minute, etc)>Regular revisions

If you have a lender you trust and work with regularly, it wouldnt hurt to have a conversation about it with them.

Flying in monthly helps, but having a local contact (realtor, manager, or trusted partner) is key for regular updates.Use tools like progress photos, video calls, or project management apps to stay connected, and schedule visits at critical stages of the project.

When he sold it was basically a wash, less the cash-flow collected.

Regularly communicate with them to stay updated on progress and address any issues promptly.