It's hard to give an answer without knowing your tenants, how many of them there are, what amenities are in the area, and more.If you had 10+ tiny apartments, a game room or fitness area may be attractive.

For both short- and mid-term investors, the market's diversity and relatively lower entry costs make it an attractive option.FYI - Philadelphia has a tenant-friendly legal environment, which can present certain challenges for landlords

If you think the mulch is somehow attracting these pests, maybe because it's wet from the sprinklers or something - perhaps swapping the mulch out for smooth rocks would help.

What do you think makes Texas such an attractive place for entrepreneurs in the real estate space?

Fixed income U.S. treasury bonds are not  attractive at all if you're being paid back with dramatically debased dollars with lower purchasing power. 

While there are certainly no vacationers here, there are a good amount of people that use short-term rentals for contract work for 1-3 months.

•Best Neighborhoods: Which areas tend to attract the most renters?

It appears they are hoping to attract people that can find deals but don't know how to raise money.

Its proximity to major attractions, businesses, and vibrant city life ensured strong demand from both tourists and professionals.

I think identifying these markets that have a history of vacation rentals (so STR regulations are not worried about), near State or Regional Attractions (alot of national attractions may be priced out but not all), while also being affordable for the average STR investor.