Louis is an awesome city to invest in but you need to be careful when investing remotely here, and you’ll want to find someone local if you choose this market.

My recommendation is to choose cities in safe and economically diversified areas with above-average income and population growth.

Please click on the links, give them a read, and share your thoughts in the comments.First is a post that I feel will help not get overwhelmed with the amount of info that is here on BP:https://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/5868/52761-the-simple-guide-to-getting-started-on-bp The second is a post that will help get you focused with your real estate investing goals:https://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/5868/52743-im-new-to-bp-any-advice-would-be-appriciatedThe last one is a post that will help you choose an “investor friendly” real estate agent.

You can't paint until the sheetrock is up and the mud is dry.

What I choose to do with my portion of the money I make is private and up to me entirely.

I think what's important here is whether or not the repair was a cap ex repair (full roof, full siding, furnance, ect) or a series of small repair (carpet in one room, paint in one room, light fixtures in a couple rooms).If it's a big ticket repair then it gets depreciated. 

My counter part who started out all fired up and seemed to be doing okay, over paid I think for certain jobs, like $45hr to reframe, he and his buddy painted (not complete) for $15hr, had the whole house sided instead of using what was there and the crew took us all summer.

I'll double check with our attorney or accountant, but does anyone know if a STR property, purchased under a residential mortgage as a second home, is covered by an LLC (should I choose to form one), from a liability stand point?

They then use these funds to invest into whatever asset they choose. 

Higher average age might also help you choose which CRRT to selectCheck the requirements, and how much work you will need to do - for instance, EDDM rates require that you drop off mailers at the individual post office where they are delivered.