They offer a $10K repair fund to fix damages in addition to SD plus warranty for appliance repair etc.I have no say in whom they choose to move in, whether there are animals, limit on # of occupants etc. they reserve right to inspect property so i have no idea if they can tell me to remodel, paint etc.does this make sense i have a vacancy coming up in October (bad rental timing).

Some of the best investment were made in bad neighborhoods and higher crime rates then as usual the area becomes gentrified and continues to grow in both equity and passive income.

You have a choice in STR. 

Smoky Mountains seems to be a solid choice but I wonder about oversaturation and competition in that area?  

I actually know other investors from Singapore that got burned very badly in this market.

They are likely not bad people but they do not want to spend $3,000 and be kicked out first night on a noise complaint. 

Huge counterparty risk, I am just working through a scenario where a correspondent HML in the midwest got defrauded from bad diligence and their funding partner is having to clean things up.

Bad things like this are common.

Credit is a factor as bad credit may limit options, or may have the lender require you to put 10 or 20 years of taxes and insurance into escrow. 

So, you will be choosing from new ones and bad ones, or sometimes someone being nice, but you will overpay.