I’m slowly learning how to identify soil types but like you said….we can’t afford to be wrong right now  jurisdictions are different all over the US.. many still just use perk tests  others do the soil samples so you just have to deal with your current area and regulations.

I am getting started and looking for someone to review my lease and have an established relationship in case I need them later.  

Eliminate debt, establish a budget, and save.

One cabin owner I spoke with mentioned that even mid-week bookings picked up when they offered flexible check-in times and promoted the property as a remote work getaway.A quick tip: before committing, check Johnson City’s regulations on short-term rentals.

Real estate agents are not highly regulated in Costa Rica as opposed to North America.  

Quote from @Jonathan Greene: What are you looking to do in 2025 to grow, regulate, or downsize your portfolio?

But the answer for everyone may differ.Here are the personal attributes I see in those able to achieve a higher than market ROI, enough higher to be able to “scale”.1- Knowledge of real estate principles, real estate law and real estate finance2- Minimum 3 -5 years full time, or near full time experience directly related to real estate investing3- Ability to utilize technology for increased efficiency, capacity, and accuracy4- Excellent hired legal counsel and excellent hired marketing help5- Established method(s) of obtaining consistently high QUALITY deal flow6- Ability to manage and choose people who are NOT employees: Attorneys, Appraisers, Mortgage Brokers, Real Estate Brokers, Title Companies, Surveyors, Marketing Specialists, Accountants, Contractors, Consultants, Property Managers7- A VERIFIABLE track record of success8- Ability to identify, analyze, and negotiate a deal that can be “worked” for “enhanced” ROI9- Some type of competitive advantage; for example for me it’s my ability to analyze and identify mortgage loans that are actually less risky than all other lenders believe (on the investing in debt side), and on the real property side it’s my ability to analyze”pull the trigger” with LESS information than other investors need,  combined with the ability to pay cash, or raise significant capital almost instantly as well as being able to obtain loans at the lowest prime customer bank rate with no recourse or personal liability.  

(Further context on the role, the business has solid marketing and network established.

Within the U.S. if you want to avoid the bureaucratic nightmares that often follow STRs you will probably want to invest in a well established STR market that already has laws favorable to STRs.

The IRS has a regulation that amounts less than 15K are tax-exempt, of course, this requires you to file a tax return.