I was kind of skeptical, but seems this city/town is good place for STRs based on your response.  

Having the right manager in small towns is challenging

We have a few airbnbs in town as well.

Also D.C. is not really a government town per se’ it’s much more similar to Boston, New York etc, and actually cheaper than those areas.

IF you are going to down that path, focus on building relationships with key investors in town and top performing CRE agents.

The fear of renting while out of town is common, but it's easy to overcome, especially when you have friends and a handyman.

@Austin Green Franklin is a lovely little town in a fantastic area. 

While the property is in a smaller town, it’s relatively close to a larger city, which I think adds a lot of potential for attracting both short-term guests and long-term tenants.The motel has fewer than 16 rooms, and the nightly rates are extremely competitive for the area.

I'm in a small town so the people aspect is a huge consideration. 

I’m currently exploring real estate investment opportunities in Canada as an international investor.