Best of luck with whichever strategy you ultimately choose to implement.

It's just the website software making the best guess the programmer knew how to make based on the information available to it via the web.After all, it does not NOT say "Zappraisal".It says, "Zestimate": Zilllow estimate.This is probably as good a definition of "estimate" as any ...

And just because they put in new carpet doesn't mean the very first tenant you put in there won't tear it up and cause it to be replaced anyway.As for increased rents factoring into your purchase price, it depends on if they've implemented the rent increases already across all 12 units.

(I want to get it to where I can wing myself off of using their money)A strategy I want to implement is to buy a cheap property, put in some sweat equity and get a mortgage on it down the road to essentially get all of my funds back out of the deal and then some  to fund my next deal. 

Some of the facebook groups I monitor for STR information seem to indicate that the hotel lobby is pushing for stringent regulations to be implemented. 

I will try to implement it.

Long shorty short, after going thru a long mortgage process, wasting 3 months and paying HUD extension fees, we decided to go for a cash sale (No Mortgage or note was recorded)Tax season is around the corner, Need taxes are being implemented soon, I've some specific tax questions and need some advice:-Some DetailsIt was a Foreclosed HUD home with 2 Rental Units (Unit 1 is our Primary Residence and Unit 2 is rented out) My primary source of income is my day job53% is used as Primary Residence and 47% is a RentalPurchase Price: 120,000 (rounded to make calculation simple)40,000 was our own money80,000 was borrowed from various sources (35,000 @ 7% personal loans + 45,000 credit card 0% offers with upfront check use fees ranging from 3% - 4%)************1.

I'm just now implementing frugality and learning to be smarter with my money since the money I save is going to put me that much closer to my first investment. 

Maybe you should consider one of the thermostats that you can monitor via an app on your phone or at least have a programmable one installed so you know its getting turned down when nobody is at the property.

I would say that the most important lesson I've learnt so far is to implement systems and processes.