I'm sure there will be others with their own (and possibly conflicting) opinions, but for question #1, I always advise my clients to focus on properties in areas that 1) they currently (or previous) live in/near, 2) they travel to frequently, or 3) they have family/friends in the area.For question #2, the answer is going to depend on what you do for #1.

Managing five rentals can eat up a ton of time in any given week, often at times that are inconvenient to you and your personal interests (family, hobbies, travel, etc.).Of course you can manage on your own.

@Tom Dieringer After purchasing my first property in 2024, I acquired most of my short-term rental (STR) knowledge from The Short Term Shop, which included maintaining respectful communication with guests, keeping calendar availability up-to-date, and ensuring high-quality listings.When I initially began May of 2024, I opted to list my property exclusively on a single Online Travel Agency (OTA) - Vrbo.

., San Diego, and others)—making it feel like a “natural” choice for a regional traveller wanting to get away for a short weekend. 

What the local shop has, is what you get, unless you want to travel farther to see what else others have.

I like following stock markets, cryptocurrency markets and love to travel.

The profile of the typical Houston traveler is someone coming in for work.

Not only do we find the housing market to be a little more manageable, but a lot of people travel there year round. 

Lastly, check any shared doors or gaps and add door sweeps or weatherstripping to block sound from traveling between the units. 

I am also a licensed EMT, and would love to provide housing for travel nurses, contractors, etc. in that realm since I can relate to them in previous jobs that I've had.I'm looking to invest in these states preferably: Georgia (1st choice - preferably near or south of ATL or in/near Savannah), Alabama, South or North Carolina, and Florida.