I know it isn't much but it was the first time I actually did something besides watch a video and for me this was very exhilarating.

Hotels often also have a policy against renting to locals, for several reasons including the prevention of drug trafficking, human trafficking, domestic violence, and prostitution.Your idea of video monitoring is also an excellent one.

I later flew out there and walked the properties -the properties and neighborhoods look much different in person than on video. 

@Bennie Smith there's two parts to that:1) We take on properties all the time and do a TakeOver Evaluation Video that we share with the owner.- Many of them have no clue of the actual condition of their properties and a decent percentage want to then sell.2) We have owners we terminate, that don't want to spend a penny maintaining their properties.

Thats from the horses mouth Peter himself said this in a training video I watched today that was more of a commercial to sign up for the 1 on 1 couching.

Take images and a video.

But 24% utilized in that video example is not good. 

I like BNBCalc because you can set up defaults and plug properties in much faster than a spreadsheet, adjust them more efficiently, and know there isn't a formula error creeping around in the background from a typo.Regarding how to roll up your sleeves and dig into comparables, John Bianchi has a video series on YouTube that's an MBA in forecasting STR income. 

I know there are unconventional ways (seller financing,  hard money lenders, investors ect) in watxh all the bigger pockets and real estate rookie videos.

He also has an immense video library on the topic: https://www.youtube.com/channe...