I'm sure this strategy of finding motivated sellers on the MLS is too slow for most investors, but for me, I'm only looking to pick up a rental every few years, so I don't think it's a bad place to start.  

We've also seen the average nightly rate increasing as demanding increases and at this point we don't see any signs of slowing on the demand side for short-term rentals in the area.

Case 1: Easy, slow.

Not sure if the IQ of the people you normally deal with but your example is really meaningless.In the current RE market it would be a slow way to acquire property and take a lot of work. 

Things have been slow the last 2 years, but it's always good around Christmas so we're coming off a nice stretch.I never have found a local handyman to use. 

I'm an engineer too and I like REI as well but I know if I'm 100% doing RE, I'll be bored as well, RE is very bored and tired, money is slow except if it's BRRR, porfolio management is more active but highly stressful.

The effects this is having in some areas is being compared to a slow moving Katrina.

@Keith Anderson Account Closed All,Sorry for the slow reply!  

Slow and steady.  

I suspect that many tenants who fell behind on rent before getting a new job but still can't pay the back rent will avoid eviction by saving the landlord by moving out before the eviction filing is executed.Indeed, the courts can't operate any faster than they did before the moratoriums so any backlog will be slow to unwind instead of a "tsunami."