I recognize this to be a vintage thread but I searched the site all over looking for advice on wage garnishment against former tenants on SSID , which lead me here.

I am not a seasoned investor, but I have learned a lot in my short time. 

Eg if doing a short term rental, don't assume it will be rented all of the time.What do the numbers look like if you took that money and bought a home as a rental?

You will have something break (or several things in a short period of time) or tenants to break their lease, leave a mess, don't pay their rent; but those things don't happen all of the time. 

I am a newer investor (currently 1 short-term rental in addition to my primary residence) looking to purchase a property that I will make into a short-term rental. 

It's a wider door that leads from living room to bedroom.

If you feel like you found a deal as a new investor that all of the other investors in the area passed on, they passed for a reason.When you think I am "struggling to find the numbers I need" that often leads to spreadsheet manipulation, not deal analysis.

There’s a short but informative book written by @Dave Foster as well as some YouTube videos.

It's a short term product with interest only payments and no pre-pay penalties. 

Regardless build a schedule so you do everything you need to get leads and produce deals