pretty much thrown in the towel on local CT agents. contacted several of them and have experienced various levels of frustration trying to  line one up to help me find properties.

The properties themselves haven't gone down in value, just that the owners have cut the sale prices to well below their actual value.

Given a soft market currently, it might be best to stay long term until the STR market improves.I beleive you can self manage with Vrbo and Airbnb better than a PM and save alot of money.If you sell you have to find something to reinvest in.

And kitchen appliances like toasters and coffeemakers, and plates, bowls, silverware, linens and towels, plus consumables like toilet paper, paper towels, dish soap, etc? 

A few follow up questions:What was your final cost per buildable sq ft (hard and soft costs)?

I fuss at offenders when I'm there and tell them to put a towel under the door so they don't get arrested and go to jail where they can't pay me rent.

I said I noticed that the market was soft.

Soft costs are my time and transportation..

It's only $15 for food, soft drinks, and more stories than you will be able to remember.

With that, a magic eraser, some Windex, Clorox with bleach spray, a good scrubby sponge and a pile of paper towels you can clean just about anything.