I'm in a very hot Nashville, TN market, and my current home, built two years ago, served for 7 months as a STR property (short lived due to awful neighbors), and then I was able to get lucky and signed a Nashville Predators hockey player to a 10 month lease fully furnished, cash flowing over $2k a month...

I saw a former NFL player the other day who is now delivering mail for the post office.

I'm currently working on quite a bit right now but would like to create a plan with a real path to purchasing my first STR in 12 months.So for you experienced players out there, what you say to me (STR newbie) if i said i want to build a few STRs in different markets for my family and me to visit as awesome vacay destinations?

There are so many new players making offers out there that can't really close quickly (or at all).  

I invited 4 of my areas bigger players including: 2 that are excellent at raising private capitol, a master wholesaler (yes this does exist) and an investor that has the best cash buyers lists I've ever seen (he has sold 45 flips this year!)   

I am working on refinancing the hard money loan.Kevin McNeely and Brian Adams are seasoned players in Killeen market and are also active on BP.Good luck to you.

From my experience, if you are willing take on the challenges and bigger rehabs, you will be better off as most of the bigger investors/cash players and flippers are not touching those.

If you're just starting out, pursue cities where big players aren't competing, like Richmond and Wilmington de.

It remains to be seen how this all plays out for Blackrock and the other big players.

As the small player there is no low hanging fruit.