AND probably most important, talk with an investor-friendly real estate agent - learn the market, get property management recommendations and look at facebook groups for other investors in your chosen market. 

As a first time landlord, I’m looking for some friendly advice to help get this apartment cleaned up and safe, without infringing on his privacy in excess.

For newly constructed, purchased or renovated properties and also retroactive generally over the last 10 years, building components are properly classified into individual units of property and accurate recovery periods for computing depreciation deductions.

I'm on the lookout for investor-friendly title companies and lawyers.

It is critical to cultivate relationships and achieve constant success.It took several years for my friends and family to believe in me.

The lender I was talking to (in Belize) won't lend to me because they don't provide loans to individuals who will obtain (or currently has) residency on a retirement visa. 

For example, two 22-year-old friends renting a place together may be higher risk than a retired woman living on her own.

If they were separately metered, each tenant would pay the $116.50 base fees and their individual use, which would be 3x higher than what they pay when sharing a meter.There are many options, but don't make it more complicated than it needs to be.

Which cities are currently Airbnb friendly and what do you foresee as far as the future of STR's in California?

Hey Matt,My friend Kalvin is a Fort Lauderdale STR investor and might be a good resource for you.