And a little skepticism that the market would continue to grow at 5% or more on average (it's been ~7% average for the 8 years I've lived here)@Dave Foster I filled out the BP spreadsheet here for the sell or rent decision, and similar to you advice, selling and investing the profits in index funds performs only slightly below being a DIY landlord, making that seem an attractive option. 

In the example below, it shows my "Vrbo commission" is 5% and their "payment processing fee" is 3%, so they take a total of 8% (of the nightly rate + cleaning fee + pet fee). 

Clean money right? 

Glue-Down: Click-lock is DIY-friendly.$1.5-3 per sf.

This eliminates the requirement for a new down payment since you are refinancing the existing debt.Lenders typically require:A copy of the owner-financing agreement.Proof of on-time payments (6–12 months).What to Do:Find lenders that offer rate-and-term refinancing for owner-financed properties (portfolio lenders and DSCR lenders often do this).Maintain a clean payment history.” 

Constantly juggling guest messages, cleaning schedules, and last-minute bookings can turn the dream of passive income into a daily grind.But with the right automation tools, STR management can be not only hands-off but also more profitable.

- Having minor maintenance taken care of at no cost - Regular cleanings and maintenance so small issues don't become big issues- A hands off tenant who never bothers the landlord- A property maintained in new condition because it's in the tenant's interestI used to do primarily rental arbitrage but shifted to STR/MTR property management.

Education is never free whether or not it is DIY or with a little expeditious help from friends/colleagues/experts/mentors.

Most of my renters choose #1 because it provides a clean break.I document everything and I don't accept the early termination notice or start the clock until they pay the termination fee. 

If you spend it now, you lose your leverage for the rest of the lease, and you'll have nothing to handle unpaid rent, cleaning, or repairs after termination.You are starting down a dangerous path.