Things they did bad which I wish I had asked more information about:Never involved in the screening of tenantsThey recommended keys for cash by waiving the rent amount buy only collecting fees which they would get not meThe cost to evict is 750-950 yet other companies told me they will include eviction in the priceThe tenant didnt pay in full last month and I was the one calling out to them and asking questions then a few days later I get an email saying something happened with the tenant and they are investigating.You get passed from person to person every week or so.No one told me when the construction was complete and so the house was ready for a week and the post to zillow and other sites was not done.It took them another week to take pictures and then another week to upload it.I was paying 200 dollar a month electric bills while the house was vacant because they left the AC running in the empty property.

Instead I want to take advantage of the opportunity I have of living rent free to invest my time and money in STR's to hopefully build that portfolio up and eventually make that my main source of income (I understand that will take time).

We are still using some towels after 7 years of use as well as all the sheets since we started.The key to those is washing them right.

@Vincent WeselakIt’s a good idea to get an estimate for your insurance costs upfront since this can vary based on the property type and location, and it’s a key factor in evaluating your cash flow. 

If anyone can update or confirm any particular state in regard to my original post, please respond with the source so we can maintain an updated list.  

The key is to differentiate your offering!

The investors that I work with in your position prefer to look more to turn key to find these deals. 

The process seems daunting and overwhelming, and I am not confident I will put the time in to talk to sources, analyze, and find properties for investing purposes. 

This is the sum of all of the sources of gain including not only cash flow and appreciation but also depreciation and amortization of the loan. 

Hey @Thanh Lu, so if you only have a couple of units, then self management isn't that hard.The key to doing it right is setting it up properly and keeping up on maintenance.I can count the number of late night calls from guests on one hand.