We have done a mid term, furnished rental for a few years and just launched our first short term rental last month.

✓ Fire pit with seating for the group✓ Fully stocked kitchen with all your cooking essentials and spices✓ Weber Charcoal Grill (BYOC)✓ Offset smoker for the BBQ enthusiasts ✓ Parking for up to 5 cars✓ Fenced and furnished backyard✓ Washer and Dryer ensuiteThat section right there gives the guest all the quick hitters and why they should stay with us.

Here it is 1 month rent for unfurnished, 2 months rent for furnished.

I looking to list my fully furnished, 3bd/2ba house for a month-to-month rental (1 month minimum), but not sure about the security deposit.One month's rent seems like a lot of money for someone who only wants to rent for a few months.Is there a rule of thumb?

Being that this is a STR, I am assuming it's furnished right?

Ideally the leasee for arbitrage should get all their money they invested (cost of furnishing, deposit, etc) back out within 6 months, and then have 6 months profit.

There will be a good time to snap up those distressed properties fully furnished.  

That's barely break-even after CAPEX, maintenance, a fair amount to pay yourself for property management, etc on some of these large properties.My last purchase in Lake Havasu was $705k plus $160k remodel and furnishing, will do $160kish a year gross rents(I was hoping for $240k but market has slowed down bigtime). 

I have a 3 bed, 2 bath single family property with a private pool that I am able to rent for 5k per month.The expectation for those paying the type of prices I've mentioned above is that the properties are expertly furnished (not just furnished as rentals, rather, high-quality upscale permanent furnishings) and they will expect amenities (pools, clubhouses, golf/mountain views, sometimes even maid service, etc). 

Fully furnished and rented to traveling nurses.