I love teaching as well, so hopefully as my experience gets better I can help someone else be successful. 

I was so fired up that I called my husband on my drive home (1 hour) and explained Matthew's success verbatim (atleast it felt like it) and then I explained that we have to sell our house because as I exclaimed, "do you realize what type of money we are sitting on?" 

Any advice for success with the nightly rentals?

I know that part of being successful in anything is networking and building relationships with like-minded people.

However we’re human and you seem like a compassionate one.I’ve found success by having an honest conversation with the tenants, and laying out a clear timeline.

"Taking Action" is an important item in being successful but do not try to do anything foolish to do that. 

For those who have and have had success any advice or guidance is much appreciated.

However, I was told that the property has to go through probate/succession first.

Local meet-ups, FB, BP, LinkedIn are all great places to meet with agents/brokers who are successfully already on the same path you're looking to take.That being said, I spent over 6 months working out of a small brokerage, learned a bit but figured I needed a change.I went to a BP meet-up and got introduced to another agent in my market with very similar goals (learn, earn and invest) and soon afterwards I made the switch.

I suggest listening to the podcast with Charles Roberts on the "boring" path to real estate success.