The problem is Zillow has made it such a minor commitment for the renter to click "they are interested" when most of the time they don't even read the ad, and a fair amount of the time their "interest" is merely a fleeting thought as they browse. 

@Julian Quintero I have an outstanding lender I can refer you to.

we have our savings parked in a high-interest one as well, but that's an outstanding rate.flips "scare" me - but anything that scares me is something i'm willing to try. i find it intimidating to find a flip team. i'd rather not do any/much of the work ourselves - that wouldn't be passive income. any tips?

As far as back taxes and liens against the property, if you are working with a reputable title company, they can perform a search of the property and confirm if there are outstanding taxes/liens against the property.  

Share some particular attributes that made this agent outstanding!

To me the premise of your FED (the amount outstanding) is now incorrect (...probably).  

It’s amazing to get paid while getting a great education in this business.Once you get over the hump of getting reviews, finding the rate at which your property will stay rented, and have good systems in place to keep guests happy, you will feel great about your STR accomplishments, phase one.Absolutely outstanding advice, and I wish for all the world we would have read this before we launched our STR! 

ask about if there's any outstanding maintenance issues that haven't been addressed?   

Term: When is the outstanding principal due?

I found this to be helpful in the beginning, hopefully you will aswell ...acceleration clauseA clause in your mortgage which allows the lender to demand payment of the outstanding loan balance for various reasons.