Even a small first step will teach you so much, and with your analytical mindset, I have no doubt you’ll make smart decisions along the way.

Do you make any decisions as to the value-proposition offered the tenant.

The last thing you'd want to have to do is manage your future partner since you question their decision making or experience and you've already invested with them. 

Of course, if one wants to know which is which, just ask the syndicator if they were the day-to-day sole decision making operator who interacted directly with the PM, lender etc.

You want an accountant who can help you strategize and who is responsive when you want to know the consequences of the financial decisions you are making throughout the year.Good luck.

I do not see any of those scenarios as likely and therefore see poor/negative cash flow at max LTV refi continuing for some time.  

I see no value in it for evaluation.Realestate.com has always been a good site for accessing properties, but they do a poor job of evaluation. 

However, I always have to ask myself what decision do I make today if I am evaluating the consequences 2-5 years from now. 

you not on one of the major listing sites you are missing a lot of revenue potential Penny wise dollar poor

The operation of an STR has almost nothing to do with real estate and 100% to do with hospitality, that is where you can distinguish yourself from other operators, provided you made a good decision in your initial purchase.