or do you have to make it official via a partnership or joint venture? 

We had a guest today book one of our properties via VRBO, and then cancelled an hour later citing Coronavirus.  

I had been under the impression that the best I could get via SBA was prime + 2%ish.

It's those maniacs that buy homes cash via quit claim deed off of craigslist that really get screwed.Make sure your property manager is a licensed real estate brokerage.Google Clayton Morris Scam and/or Morris Invest Fraud for a cautionary tale of what not to do when buying turnkey real estateUnderstand you can not eliminate all risk, only mitigate it.

(Always on Craigslist) Apparently they try to collect a holding fee via some untraceable funding means such as Western Union or something.

You can become rich in either market, but keep in mind more people become wealthy via real estate than in the stock market alone. 

Payments are made via ACH direct from the tenant's bank account.

It's those maniacs that buy homes cash via quit claim deed off of craigslist that really get screwed.Make sure your property manager is a licensed real estate brokerage.Google Clayton Morris Scam and/or Morris Invest Fraud for a cautionary tale of what not to do when buying turnkey real estateUnderstand you can not eliminate all risk, only mitigate it.

Extending the opportunity for them to fill their units with someone else via subletting is a good idea and if they cannot do that, they should not be let out of the contract. 

The seller said boundary survey is all I need.