In fact, it’s even easier to justify it with short-term rentals because if you indicate that you plan to rent it out to someone long-term, that would obviously prevent you from being able to use it as a second home. 

Having boots on the ground with an STR can make or break the guest experience, as well as preventative maintenance and quality upkeep of your unit. 

Despite signing on the court day that she would move out in 7 days and waiving her right to appeal, she still appealed, preventing me from filing a writ of possession.

. - here are the links to USPS mailbox "standards". https://www.usps.com/manage/mailboxes.htmhttps://about.usps.com/publications/engineering-st...http://pe.usps.gov/text/dmm/D041.htmI try to avoid putting any names on a tenant's mailbox, but I don't prevent a tenant from doing do themselves.

This can help make sure preventative maintenance as well as minor things don't cost you as much as a handyman visit.

I cannot overstate the importance of finding a way to build a good rapport with your tenants as early on in the acquisition process as possible, as it will minimize or prevent countless headaches further down the road.When I took over my duplex with an inherited resident in one of the units, I had this conversation with the tenant prior to closing and found out that the toilet in their bathroom was clogging once or twice a week, and their shower head water pressure was super weak. 

The other thing to consider is does that car loan prevent you from buying a rental property (ie your debt to income ratio is too high)?

This is to prevent the units to from freezing up here (Florida). 

, most of those nations have much heavier governmental intervention in the real estate market, more onerous regulations and bureaucrats who (ostensibly) prevent problems on either side of the equation.

I'd get a pressure washer and clean the driveway, that way it won't need to be painted again-let it go back to the natural colour of the concrete or asphalt.