Yeah, various factors kept adjusting but for majority part it was the same sport. 2020, everything changed.

I’m naturally inclined toward this area because it’s within driving distance of major west Coast cities (L.A., San Diego, and others)—making it feel like a “natural” choice for a regional traveller wanting to get away for a short weekend. 

I've included an example below to help illustrate this.So different lenders have different rates (which do vary even for DSCR loans) but these are factors they all consider.See example below:DSCR < 1Principal + Interest = $1,700Taxes = $350, Insurance = $100, Association Dues = $50Total PITIA = $2200Rent = $2000DSCR = Rent/PITIA = 2000/2200 = 0.91Since the DSCR is 0.91, we know the expenses are greater than the income of the property.DSCR >1Principal + Interest = $1,500Taxes = $250, Insurance = $100, Association Dues = $25Total PITIA = $1875 Rent = $2300DSCR = Rent/PITIA = 2300/1875 = 1.23If a purchase, you also generally need reserves / savings to show you have 3-6 month payments of PITIA (principal / interest (mortgage payment), property taxes and insurance and HOA (if applicable).

Several economic factors are contributing to this shift:Overbuilding: Some areas of Charlotte have seen significant overdevelopment, leading to an oversupply of rental units.Tighter Money: Rising interest rates and economic uncertainty have made tenants more cautious with their spending.Tenant Behavior: Many responsible renters are choosing to stay put rather than take on the cost and hassle of moving.What Does This Mean for Landlords?

We found that two key factors significantly helped us succeed with our short-term rental (STR): using NightlyPricer instead of AirDNA and opting for Safely Insurance.NightlyPricer: Rather than relying on AirDNA, we chose Nightly Pricer, which provides more dynamic, real-time adjustments based on demand, local events, and market trends.

Quote from @Omar Samaniego: Quote from @Gannon Van Dyke: I started using RentRedi this year and found it super helpful after transitioning from spreadsheets and Google drive docs and using docusign for leasing re-ups.

There is a ton of areas so I would start with where you are located at, within a 30 min drive

In your situation there is actually another factor that may work in your favor.Only the proceeds allocated to the sale of the building can be used in a 1031exchange. 

Drive for dollars.

You can probably beat $2000/year insurance, but the management fee should be 10%, you need to factor in turnover too and 5% is probably not enough for both maintenance and turnover and I assume you added it, but you didn't mention property taxes (which have been terrible in Jackson County lately since Frank White decided to jack them through the roof).