A lot depends on your entry price and instant equity. 

The median home price is also very low nationwide which creates a low barrier to entry.

I also see your point about avoiding bargain basement properties, especially insofar as tax shielding is easier with an asset of a reasonable size.Your point about barriers to entry is also interesting, since I suppose those barriers can be geography (natural boundaries of mountains/water), but you're probably referring to that which impedes future construction?

We already paid them a pretty sizeable entry fee ($30k) to cover some of their equity and debt in another project.

However, there may be a commonly expected way of handling it in your area.

Low barrier to entry, low taxes, landlord friendly, some amazing class A and B suburbs and a strong urban core. 

This is a small 3 br house.Work Order Instructions:- Entry 1 : Security/Screen Door | Replace Exterior Door Screen- Entry 1 : Wall/Ceiling | Spackle and paint- Bathroom 1 : Door Stop | Replace door stop- Bathroom 1 : Light Fixture | Replace bulb- Bathroom 1 : Shower/Tub Caulking | Re-silicone tub- Bathroom 1 : Toilet bowl/lid/seat | Replace toilet seat- Bathroom 1 : Toilet Paper Holder | Replace toilet paper holder- Bathroom 1 : Tub/Shower | Relay loose shower tiles- Bedroom 1: closest to the front door : Closet/Door/Track/Shelving | Install Closet Rod- Bedroom 1: closest to the front door : Light Fixture/Fan | Fan light does not work - replace fan- Bedroom 2: 2nd closest to the front door : Closet/Door/Track/Shelving | Replace closet rod- Bedroom 2: 2nd closest to the front door : Window Covering | Replace blinds- Bedroom 3: furthest from the front door : Switch/Outlet | Install smoke/CO detector- Bedroom 3: furthest from the front door : Window Covering | Replace blind- Dining Room 1 : Window Covering | Replace Blind- Hallway/Stairs 1 : Light Fixture | Replace bulb- Hallway/Stairs 1 : Other | Replace blind- Kitchen 1 : Window Covering | Replace other blind- Laundry Room 1 : Light Fixture/Fan | Replace bulb- Living Room 1 : Switch/Outlet | Replace Outlets- Living Room 1 : Window Covering | Replace Blinds- Basement 1 : Light Fixture/Fan | Replace bulb- Systems 1 : Thermostat | Reattach thermostatLine ItemsDescription AmountLabour hours, replace several blinds, screens, door stopper, replace toilet seat and toilet paper holder, reset showertiles, install closet rods, replace necessary bulbs, smoke detectors and outlets, touch up paint$2,096.38Shop Supplies $3.00Ace hardware invoice I51016 $44.64Ace Hardware I50619 $53.69Ace Hardware I50569 $43.57Total $2,552.16The gross rents on these units are great but so much of the profits get eaten away by the turnover costs it just makes less and less sense every year. 

After entry, save receipts and back up in a file for that year. 

Honestly if you are doing STR I would suggest doing Austin itself rather than all the way out there in Kyle - maybe a couple of years ago when the prices were through the roof in Austin city itself this would be a good alternative but there is a blip right now where you can get a god entry point in Austin (downtown/east ideally) for STR

However, its downfall (and really what makes it so easy) is that it is a single-entry system.