My rental condo in Asheville, NC was spared damage from the flood, but when the city finally turned the water back on a few days ago, they somehow overpressurized and blew out a fitting inside a wall. 

I have been reading and listening to real estate investing books everyday for a while now and it is something i want to pursue. 

-The right “who” will be lucky if they finally figure out the right “how” before parting ways in frustration.

Finally, short-term rentals can offer potential tax advantages, as many expenses associated with the property may be deductible.

One of the first books Dave gave me to read was, Rich Dad Poor Dad.

Some landlords complained about having no bookings for months.

There's so much information here on BiggerPockets as well as the podcast and books and other websites, books and blogs too that are either free or very cheap. 

Then you can read a more in-depth book like The Book On Rental Property Investing by Brandon Turner or The Unofficial Guide to Real Estate Investing by Spencer Strauss.You need to get a firm grasp on two things: the ways to make money with real estate, and how to find deals that match your goals.P.S.

Are there other players in this field that I should be aware of and consider talking to before making a final decision?

Quote from @Jacob Molina: Okay, so with that 3-2-1 would the final year of that or end of that the rate be fixed or could it go up any higher?