If it's cute, functional and comfortable, your medium term renters will not care about where it's from. 

When I looked further, the same data showed Illinois had a medium or high level of outbound population since 1977.

I'm debating medium term vs long term rental.  

I currently have 1 str in the smokies and would like to acquire a handful of more properties, likely short or medium term.

But if laws don't allow it, or there is some other barrier, I think the medium-term furnished rental does really well.

Pour a new double width concrete beam foundation , and have a good brick layer rebuild those pony walls.

Each of us will be different.That said, this is what we did: 10 single family brick houses in a linear market in Texas. 5 medium sized houses in an expensive beach market in Florida.  1 super STR in an expensive beach market. 

About $1000 for the decent size kitchen, and up the price by a a few hundered dollars if you ask them for funkier pay patterns.Flooring:Hard wood is about $3 to 5 dolalrs/square foot, and installing, is a 3 to 6 dollars per square foot.So find out the square footage of the house, and multiply it by about 7 to 9 dolalrs (depending on what width plank you choose) and you have your flooring.Agian, do this a few times and one glance at the house and you know "ohh $7K flooring",  how many woindows?

I am just getting started in building a portfolio of medium- to long-term rentals, and having analyzed a few out-of-state markets, I really like Columbus due to its cash-flowing characteristics and recent growth numbers.I am reaching out to learn a little more about the different neighborhoods and connect with any local agents/investors to possibly pick their brains.Let's hear what neighborhoods you prefer and why?

Quote from @Frank Straughter: Part of the problem may be your use of MTR or medium-term rentals.