I installed an exhaust fan over their stove and I know that they use it, but it’s overmatched I’m afraid.

As such, an investor funding a $120,000 BRRRR buy and rehab in all cash grows the portfolio much slower than an investor who executes three $120,000 projects with $40,000 invested in each (with hard money financing of the remaining $80,000).

The typical house flip business model is different than an A+D model.

Or are you going to try remote-managing this place from somewhere more than an hour away?

Because of this, I suggest if you invest in a coastal STR in CA that you have a back up plan   It is my opinion that it is more a when than an if that some anti STR regulation will be passed increasing the challenges of having an STR.Good luck

I don't mind the drive, like you mentioned it's only temporary, but there are a few things holding me back..1) I'm having trouble getting a homeowners insurance rate, rather than an investment property rate, so that $200/mo for insurance is really tough to swallow2) Actual rents are lower than originally listed, which directly impacts my bottom line.  

In a lot of locations we are getting away from the central systems, and, even detached homes that currently have through the wall exhaust, we have been changing to this type of product to eliminate the "fuzz" floating around the yard:https://adr-products.com/

Don't get me wrong; there are plenty of issues/problems/quirks that old houses have that new houses don't, and an old house can obviously have hidden problems and big repair/maintenance bills too...but, the point is: a brand new house is not a foolproof solution to repairs/maintenance (and in some cases, a brand new house can be a much bigger gamble than an older house).This is a particularly important lesson for inexperienced investors, who tend to be the most prone to "shiny object syndrome" (the tendency to let nice aesthetics distract from real, underlying issues).

She paid the rent on time and in full for several months until she almost exhausted her savings.

After testing a dozen or more exhaustively, it came down to 2 that my OUR needs (your needs may be different).