It can give you a vague idea of what you can do but it is not to be solely relied upon.Two is that even in the best place to do STR's like Pigeon Forge, management eats up too much revenue to be really profitable.

Depending on the balances of the student loans, that can eat up your qualifying income pretty quickly.

That area is an eating space but has some dead space where you could make a pantry from tall cabinets. 

There is a good saying “ you can’t eat equity”.Good luck and I hope this helps.

Next to the refrigerator is a short retaining wall that leads to around 30 inches of dead space and then the eat in area of the kitchen.

You’re going to deal with turnover, capex, maintenance, etc that will eat into profits.

Have your cake and eat it too?

Without knowing market, I'd say at least a small bump of 10% could be tolerated ($20-22/mo = not going out to eat a time or two for the month, etc).  

More advice would be appreciated. 8 paidoff townhomes (100k per unit) aren't pulling the income necessary, hoa fees are eating the owner's lunch, he cant self manage anymore, nor can he afford property management.

Appreciation may be slightly less than a SFH, but the argument that the dues eat into profits hasn’t proven true for us.