That way, you’ll have control over the operation and might be able to squeeze in a few extra bookings to pad your numbers.

Work with what you can control and let go of arbitrary rules. 

I talk with a lot of investors who are stuck when the HOA fee goes up and they no longer cashflow.With SFR you are in control and have many other exits.  

This is unfortunately the downside with hiring full-service property managers; you lose complete control of your unit and finances.

Here's a map comparing income tax rates by state.Rent control: Never invest in any city that imposes significant limits on your ability to manage your own properties.

So, that is within your control.

On the Development risk side, I told her I would never put us into less than a breakeven deal potential.Development there are far too many moving parts even though our process control is broken down into bite sizes.  

Later, I received an email from VRBO stating that they could not lift the restrictions if we could not prove a disaster and that the cabins had actually flooded.These folks are out of control.

I bring the same discipline and precision from my athletic career into real estate.

I've been told both extremes by several different people, but that's crazy to hold the agent responsible when they're forcing this arbitrary rule just so they can go after agents and brokers for something they had zero control over.