And Shaun gets some pretty unique stuff to stick, too!

If the 5.97% is the ceiling rate, then I would be tempted to use it, but I suspect that if you look into the wording of the contract, that the variable can go as high as 13% or so - which would mean you should stick with the fixed rate, for a buy-and-hold strategy. 

A/B, I'd probably stick with wood. 

I'd rather pay a commission for every booking instead of a flat fee for no guarantee.Then maybe stick with VRBO, Flipkey, Airbnb, but you won't get many bookings, as they're geared more towards the nightly market. 

I'd like to stick around $180,000 or below.Can anyone tell me which areas should be avoided in both cities?

Not sticking to (or knowing) their numbers.

My advice is to stick to the rules once you deviate from them it gets worse and worse. this situation is  going to get nothing but worse. use it as a learning experience and file the eviction.

Other people have very different sorts of travel patterns for different or the same reasons.You have to spend an awful lot of money to get a free vacation by sticking to one card.

You may wish to consider helping your folks fix up the property and then putting it on the market ( putting lip stick on the pig).

What typically happens over time the family or friend will feel that you are profited from them and they are getting the short end of the stick..