Biggerpockets community is so friendly and a great resource for new and experienced investors alike. 

the one thats successful is so successful it makes up for the failure of the other nine. so if you invest in 5 venture deals and they all lose money, its not fraud, incompetence on the part of the advisor, or even bad luck.  

Unfortunately, most of the time this happens, the tenants have spent the rent money already and they end up moving:(Just some of the challenges of investing in gentrifying, Class C areas and why proper management is so important to minimize these challenges.

Hiring a manager or building a good team you trust to take of it is so important! 

You're spot on, it is so overlooked and misunderstood!

This market is so volatile, one minute something is available and the next its sold and the closing documents are signed.

Since the number of sales is so low and owners hold on as long as they can it will take a major market shift to start seeing comparables with the ADU variable. 

Also, what are you main reasons for looking to STF in Rockford, not knocking the area by any means but there is so much opportunity within the city limits where you're less likely to have extended vacancies.Short term rentals have taken a beating this year, while long term rentals have seen an uptick in what they can charge due to high home prices, and inflated interest rates.

Well done on making the progress to get to where you are now and for looking for more growth.You're definitely in the right place as there is so much knowledge in these forums and elsewhere.Best of luck to you. 

There is SO MUCH advise that is thrown at us when we first get into real estate investing, it's hard to filter through it.