I agree with Account Closed that STR wasn’t as popular back in 2008 as it is now.  

It's hard to evaluate the flip without knowing your numbers but from a glance, I can say your design choices while thoroughly addressing each room should get you multiple offers this week.    

It’s kind of a gamble but I guess you can make an educated bet based on the market, supply/demand, and the quality of management.If you didn’t do that then I do think they’re due back their deposit.On the positive side, it sounds like you have a nice property in a popular area if it rented that quick..Best of luck! 

If you don't live in a market that doesn't fit your investment goals like you do, you have no choice to go out of state or else not invest in real estate.

Even if you break even, it will probably be the better financial choice.

Unfortunately, I don't think the property I live in now will pull in enough rental income to cover the mortgage, and on top of that, I'm fairly certain selling the property would actually take money out of my pocket.I do have some time to think about all this, since the company I work for has a travel ban in place right now due to COVID-19, I'm not able to travel to Portland for work yet, but whenever this pandemic ends, this job opportunity and big lifestyle change will be staring me in the face asking for action to be taken.I want to get into real estate investing at some point in my 20's, and I don't want to set myself up for failure by making bad choices with my current situation.

Take in as much info as you can and make best choices for you. 

Some combination of those things will mean that we as investors will have some choices to make.

Paternity leave and now COVID-19 has given me a choice, and I am taking it.

Anyway, I think following through with this deal was definitely the right choice.