Even small, consistent amounts add up over time.Learn & NetworkKeep reading REI books, but also join real estate meetups or online groups like here on BiggerPockets.

Certainly track record is very important, but track record is so much more than deal performance.The last decade was a consistent bull market so almost anyone could put some runs on the scoreboard while learning little to nothing.  

It is my understanding that the company works out the tenant billing rates based on your master utility bill to keep it consistent and fair.So, the technology exists BUT is it legal in Maine to bill the tenants in this way?

So we shopped it out to our consistent buyers but at a strong price of $75k.

If we're consistently profitable and find that the cleaner is not effective in responding to guest needs, then we will not hesitate to go the dedicated on-island agent route.

In the case of a successful tort against you, you might regret commingling funds in a single bank account, but I can't see how keeping them consistently separated would ever burn you, even if it is a bit less convenient.  

For many owners, this is a win.Other owners may value the consistent monthly deposits rather than worrying about the usually seasonal STR incomes. 

Biggest thing IMO is getting close to the train station and have a high quality units that may not look attractive on paper the first few years but will have the ability to raise rents consistently long term. 

For context, 4 adults and all our tech living here, we were running about $250/mo on average per month for electricity anyway... outside of summer a/c useage. so all in all, its saved me about $2k a year if i had to guesstimate for you (it stays hot here through October usually).i still owe about $23k on mine, have no intentions of selling the house. but if i decide to move out and rent the whole house out, our market would support higher rent in exchange for no electricity bill. i think you just need to decide what YOUR main benefit of having the panels are. for me it was for the house-hack, and consistent billing, despite the usage. if its strictly for property value increase, i'm not sure it would be worth it, pending your specific market. 

Hard work and consistent action pay off.