We have zero STR experience.Long ago I heard that you should build a log style cabin in the Smokies because that's what visitors expect.

With listings you get visitors -> leads -> sales

Mexico is the 7th most visited country on earth, with more than 40 million visitors per year and has been climbing the rankings in spite of all those problems.

I'm open to looking into more properties, but I've also had a difficult time finding suitable property management in the Youngstown area.  

THEN, after showing you the specific house of interest, I explain that while I understand your position regarding exclusive contracts, if we are going to continue working together I'd like a contract. then I tell you that a contract CAN easily stipulate that I am your agent with regards to the property at 123 Main St Nowhereville, MA or if there are multiple properties and we are feeling each other out as to suitability for working together then we can go with a 24 hour exclusive contract.  

At first I thought that a ski resort would be a poor choice because of high vacancy in summer months, but apparently the resort manages to stay mostly booked year round with golf and mountain biking bringing in visitors in the warm months. 

I'm not sure if that's any better or worse from the perspective of tenants, visitors, or you as the owner.  

I know the mobile home next door to me was recently purchased by one of the residents here in the park, and she is going to be renting it to winter visitors, so I'm assuming it's legal, but I don't know that for sure.

Also, the properties are near a military base so the visitors don't expect lavish amenities, just the basics.

People who still buy in Tulum today are hoping that Tulum will become another Playa del Carmen but that is very unlikely to happen for several reasons, the main ones being:1) Unlike in Playa del Carmen, it's impossible to buy a property close to the beach and certainly not at a decent price;2) Given Tulum's current and upcoming urban planning, it'll never have anything close to the 5th Avenue that made Playa del Carmen world famous;3) There is hardly any land still available for development in the area where visitors want to be in Playa del Carmen.