You are, however, increasing your workload and risk exposure significantly.Now, if we lived somewhere warm, or in an urban area, where there is year-round demand for STR's and you can reasonably expect to rent it out the majority of weeks in the year, everything changes and the additional juice may become worth the additional squeeze.

Sometimes this is as simple as applying...other jurisdictions it is much more difficult. 4) GC insurance is very expensive, if you're not planning to get this you're possibly leaving significant exposure to yourself.

I gave him 50% of first month's rent, and if the tenant renewed their year lease, he would get a $200 bonus.

Appreciation is often the bonus of cash flowing real estate investments.

It's on a main street with loads of traffic and exposure.  

Bandit signs (your city may be strict and take them down, put them up when city workers are not working and put them in front of a Church,Walmart or any other high traffic area because you will want full exposure) Craigslist ads (Be very consistent with these, 1-2 a week) Business cards (Very very beneficial if you give these to waiters or waitresses or people you know and give them a nice referral fee.

you can do it get a master of real estate, and a financial degree, learn about the private equity sector make some bonus and start your own firm.

I use the S-Corp in CA, for federal tax reasons it is better, I pay myself a reasonable salary (small) that covers FICO,SS and all the usual stuff, then pay myself bonuses which arent subject to FICO.

Separately from this - I have a job that pays me a very respectible salary and I have saved up approximately $125k and I would like to increase my exposure to REI.  

The management for RV pads can be very challenging, especially getting in quality tenants, but the going rental rates start at about $500/month bonus cashflow from a sideyard with access to the basic utilities on a "plug-in" basis.