However, this is a big mistake because home price appreciation will be the biggest contributor to your overall return on investment over a full market cycle. 

While everyone is talking true investing or running a RE related business, for most people the biggest single step they can take and take easily, is buying their personal residence.

The biggest challenge was doing a fix and flip with no money while also having to live in it and maintain full time employment to allow the "fix" part to happen lol lots of PB and Js.

For me finding handyman/contractors to do the make ready has been my biggest challenge for out of area properties.

I think the biggest thing is that it prevents us from buying a house in an area we’re unfamiliar with as a our long term home and is end up hating the area we buy in.

The biggest takeaway from what I learned is that people are investing in you more than the actual deal.

The biggest danger is hidden structural damage.

I've explored the cost and the requirements both personally and professionally as a site and land use civil, and the biggest savings is in reduced construction time.

Now I haven't been in the STR game for long, but I do happen to have the largest portfolio of long term rentals in the Cleveland market so take this for what it's worth.....Some speculation based on some semi related experiences being the biggest name in the game in regards to LTR's.To me a lot of the problems you are encountering are a direct result of what type of property you're renting out.

One of the biggest questions is - what is your long term goal?