I am getting back into rentals after taking a break after my mom passed away.

I just bought a $400k STR and the break even point with 25% down is $54k with a 2% sinking fund and 3% maintenance built in. 

They break down every Cleveland neighborhood in detail.

https://eyeonhousing.org/2025/01/cost-of-constructing-a-home...cool break down thanks for sharing!

I have a couple STR investors do this here in the winter months depending on the events coming to town

Those failures are  more negligent than a PM allowing a guest who paid with expectation to stay at the house to remain there in the middle of winter when they arrived on a Friday evening as you described.For now you will have to rely upon insurance, I don't believe the PM acted unreasonably given the circumstances.

So it looks like you would need around 4-5 years to get to break even by selling those stocks and paying the tax now. 

Colorado’s market can be tough with high prices, and it’s smart to be cautious about breaking even.

I live in an expensive market (Long Island), where breaking even or cash flowing on a property isn’t really possible right away.

My tenants had late payments, but they were eventually made whole—credit where credit is due.Another standout moment was in 2021 when a major winter storm hit the area.