The problem they left the house in mess so is what above normal wear and tear.

The charge for doing so can definitely cut into your equity as it can be 10's of thousands depending on the estimated value of the home. 

I think, for now, I’ll probably use Buildium (my current software) and manually enter into furnished finder and AirBnB and require approval so it doesn’t auto schedule and so I can send a proper lease.  

I've had negative experiences with a bad general contractor and a non-paying renter (leading to an eviction), so I'm being extra cautious in selecting the right lender this time.Could anyone recommend a trustworthy lender in the Los Angeles area who can guide me through this difficult time?

They seem like a newer company so I am trying to see if they are worth jumping ship from my existing carrier for.Thanks

-I will have more various home expenses in the long term that I would never need to pay if i stayed a renter.At first glance, my thoughts are i'm not paying $2,500 / month in rent so of course buying a home is a better investment.

Being 22 with only 16k in tuition is great position to be in, so I would lean towards investing if you have the funds to do a fix and flip.

We’re not ready to buy yet so we don’t need a realtor or a lender. 

Thanks for replies so far! 

Homes that appeal to our target tenant segment range from $350,000 to $475,000, so the supply of housing we target remains almost the same regardless of how many new homes are built.DemandPopulation growth drives housing demand and price and rent increases.