The competition is stiff.

Scared stiff, Shelly

To me, that would be a red flag of someone who is willing to stiff either side if it doesn't work out. 

If they outlaw STR the next day or the next month after you start, do you plan to continue to pay the landlord out of your pocket for the remainder of the lease or just stiff them?

However, while I am not familiar with that market in particular, I would imagine that competition on the larger properties would be just as stiff as in the duplex and quad market.

Competition is stiff for these, but if you persevere you can land one. 

Of course I kept all the material receipts and paid my father and the handymen but I did not hire a contractor so I do not have proper invoices but only receipts...I probably spent around 60 to 80k for the rehab but even if I could fully deduct the expenses the capital gain would be still very stiff...A friend suggested I should reinvest right away and do a 1013 exchange to defer capital gains and another friend mentioned to reinvest through RealWealth Network.

Those things are garbage trees, and being so big and so close to the house, a good stiff wind could knock it right down into the roof. 

You'll know right away whether they're intending on paying or not.The sooner you serve it, the sooner you'll be able to get them out if they're intending to stiff you as that is the first step in the process.But hopefully, they'll get the notice and then they'll contact you and/or make the payment.

If there is no load bearing wall nearby you will need a stiff back (header) to span two load bearing walls and install them on that.