I watched my sister build a portfolio beginning with a single house hack in 1994. 

These transactions don't included additional expenses the business incurs like meals, travel, dues, subscriptions, marketing, accounting, licenses, phone, internet, etc.

I am planning to travel to Columbus and drive around but I can't possibly get to know an entire area in even a few short visits. 

I have no experience in owning mountain homes, but I do use them as a traveler nearly annually.I second @John Underwood with having a hot tub for sure

We were not there often due to travel and had no pets, apartment was returned in the same condition that we received itI am wondering if a normal wear and tear allowance calculation is something that actually exists and by law they need to provide the hourly rate breakdown and what was cleaned correct?

Safe travels and hope to host your next trip to Cambridge.Don't forget to leave us a review on Airbnb!

I've putting my money into public markets and HYSA but once rates drop I need to re-think the HYSA.Other investors I know are doing STRs in California and OOS, partially because of the IRS loophole with STRs and being about to offset active income, some MTRs (renting out to people displaced for insurance reasons such as a fire, other reasons, not so much travel nurses like during COVID), buying an apartment complex together with 3 to 4 people, working in the real estate industry (acquisition, property management, lending, becoming an agent, etc).

Why are people traveling to the area, understanding this matters. 

I have a solution that I do myself once a year.Here's one of my best tips: go on Airbnb as a TRAVELER, in Traveler mode.

Ideally my goal is to travel while renting out this property.