If you learn to drive a stick, driving an automatic is no big deal.

They are basically using rental arbitrage and the investor is the landlordArticle here on BP discusses how this is a win-win for everyone.

You've learned:1) The basics of landlording2) That it's not for youNow, how can you apply your landlording knowledge to "manage your manager"? 

Next time it snows drive around looking for snow removal teams and reach out to them for pricing?

Their clear incentive is to bet on falling interest rates between now and debt maturity.A small handful of owners are forced to sell due to a looming balloon payment that a refi won't cover, but you're not going to find one of those by driving the market when any commercial broker can just look up properties on that basis and start making calls. 

Hostfully seems like it will cover the basics we need, plus it has some unique features that others didn’t offer.

Yes, @Chris Seveney, this is basically what their model is.

Driving around the neighborhood over time, I saw the same van at a few other houses.

If you need to, it may be worth it to just create a website - its really not that expensive to get a basic one from fiverr

Focus on learning the basics of MTRs, including their appeal to traveling professionals and the need for furnished properties.