Remember; pigs get fat and hog's get slaughtered. 

Don't hire contractors, who show up in a pressed shirt, can speak both Spanish and English and do zero work but pocket a fat margin.  

Their entire business model is to charge premiums and play hard to ever pay out on the fat tails.

The person who mentioned theme is correct - The Waterfall House in Palenville does best in Palenville because of their theme.In most towns, non-permanent structures can be used up to 6 months of a year. 

They either have bad credit or they don't want what seems more "permanent" so they rent with the intention of something better coming along down the road.

;  home would be owner-occupied (at least for 6 months - maybe permanently).1) should I get my own agent - or just use the FM listing agent?  

Unless you rent to a someone for more than 28 days, then they become permanent.

Find a local small contractor that specializes in water damage and get them to bid the project making it crystal clear that it's you paying and not the fat wallet insurance company.

Hey guys, wondering what the locals think will be the impact of this from, here is the article from IBJ:September 6, 2016Hayleigh ColomboCarmel-based for-profit college operator ITT Educational Services Inc. announced Tuesday morning that it will permanently “discontinue academic operations” at all ITT Technical Institutes campuses.The company has already eliminated the “vast majority” of its 8,000 employees and canceled the fall academic quarter, which had been scheduled to begin this month, according to a statement released Tuesday morning.ITT Educational operates more than 130 ITT Technical Institute campuses in 38 states.ITT Tech announced a week ago it would stop enrolling students, and an Indianapolis charter school run by the companyhas also shut down.The move follows years of scrutiny by the federal education department over its recruiting methods and students’ educational performance, and recent actions that made itineligible to accept new studentswho relied on student loans.In its statement Tuesday morning, ITT called the federal sanctions “inappropriate and unconstitutional.""

Asheville is another story as Robert pointed out.There are more and more year round residents in Wolf Laurel in the last couple years so it is possible to get permanent renters there.