Using a turnkey condo for short-term rentals on weekends while reducing your commute could be smart, as long as STR income covers costs and local regulations allow it.From tax perspective, if you personally use the STR as you intend, you cannot create losses under vacation home rules.

@Max Bellino,I understand your perspective.

Throw in a dose of imposter syndrome and fatalism and you have a recipe for some mood swings right before a property is booked again.From a practical point, I would recommend great photos, a clearly defined target to whom you are advertising and understanding the best pricing of an area really well to ake sure you get booked in a timely fashion.From a more meta perspective, be aware that these listings don't typically get booked well in advance (families displaced by flood or fire, traveling nurses who need a new contract ASAP, and construction projects that realize they need a speciality engineer on-site RIGHT NOW don't book ahead). 

If it’s just cosmetic, like a fresh coat of paint or minor fixes, it’s probably worth it.

By taking the equity from one property and reinvesting it into another, you can continue building your real estate empire without constantly injecting fresh capital.Why BRRR Works for Real Estate InvestorsThe BRRR strategy allows investors to grow their portfolios faster because it leverages the property’s equity to fund future deals.

Talk to locals, have someone take video walkthroughs, get multiple perspectives.

If I've said it once, I've said it 1000 times: don't include a clause in your lease if you don't understand it or are unwilling to enforce it.I recommend you politely explain your perspective, then ask her to work with you to help market the property and find a new renter. 

Here's another perspective: Insurance is for liability protection.

***You'd want to make it worthwhile to foreclose and also be safe***If someone is an A Paper borrower just needing to close fast, some of my investors will go 75 LTV.You can also always feel more comfortable on a purchase rather than a refi, as people are bringing skin into the game, not trying to exit.That's an interesting perspective, especially regarding the different LTV thresholds based on the borrower's situation.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and perspective!