@Logan WilliamsonI recently listened to a podcast which mentioned that the wholesaler has a buyer's list of 900 and only 5 of those are regular buyers of his deals.The school of thought as well as my theory is that if you have a killer deal, you will have scores of buyers clamoring to get it and from that stampede you will be able to easily create/extend your list.Lastly, below is a podcast that you can listen to and get details to build a sophisticated buyer's list.https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2013/08/29/flipping-wholesaling-plan-sam-craven/ Working with family without killing each otherClosing 27 deals during the first year in businessGetting leads with direct mailInvesting while holding a full time jobPartnering with other investors when first beginningHow to lower your direct mail response rate … and why you want toTips on online advertisingMaking a plan for future growthHow to stand out from the “bad wholesaler” crowdHow to build a sophisticated buyer’s listHow to handle major problems when they come up

Though I think William may have been referring to entities to attribute some earned income to the activities of property management when he discussed S-Corp vs LLC.

So I would attribute your situation to one where you ended up getting an incompetent person, just like in any industry.

Perhaps then an area will stand out that tends to get better returns than others.

There will be 1 or 2 that stand out above the rest, and 1 or 2 that are atrocious, but you would likely be unable to tell the difference honestly.

While you can do certain things to try to make your unit stand out, overall your income is going to be capped by the availability of alternatives right in your building.Another point, HOA costs and assessment for repairs can seriously eat into your bottom line.

Obviously the college degree will also make you stand out above (only) high school graduates as well if the field you are interested in values that education (ie. professional settings and such).In the end, I would vote for college and to leverage your financial assets at as early an age as you can to find ways to replace your need to work.  

Even though these are 30+ day stays, travelers still appreciate an experience and it will help you stand out.

Even in a "saturated" market you can make a nice profit on a STR, if your able/willing to put the extra money and time into what guests want and to stand out from your competition. 

Quality work goes without saying but being professional and organized will make you stand out.