If you plan to go cheap on furniture, decor, and photos, you won't compete with the other MTRs and you'll more likely wait longer to get that booking or get it at a lower rate.

MTR fits me better for now since I would like to leave furniture in the house and also I can use it when I am in town. btw, if a peacock makes the house more beautiful thus provides emotional support to everyone in the house, I may consider it. lolDoes any one know how to find a reliable MTR property manager?

As John mentioned, it is lot of money to invest fro STB, furnitures, decorations...I did a couple of online return estimator but not sure how much can we trust them?

We (my wife and I) went into the apartment and we were totally underwhelmed - the apartment was small, which we already knew, but it appeared even smaller than it really was because of the way the tenant had cramped an unnecessary amount of furniture and decorations into the place.

A lot of used hotel furniture is better looking and better built than most new, reasonably priced, household furnishings.

I'll just need to come to grips with the debt I'm incurring when taking out each loan and know that eventually they will be paid off.Regarding a live-in flip, I'm not very handy and my wife doesn't let me touch anything when we put together new furniture.

What I'm wondering is what kind of furniture in the room and in common areas is expected for a rent by room? 

The challenging issue  is there is an above ground spa installed in between the two units and a common area with outdoor furniture by the spa.  

So here I am with un-permitted work performed in my house and a wet ceiling and damaged furniture.

Nice furniture, not your Grandmothers praisely couches.