That means the -ve cash flow will be my housing costs. 

Is your DSCR ratio greater than 1-meaning are you cash flowing (according to the lender's criteria of mortgage, property taxes and insurance (and HOA) if applicable).

. * all the above means the company does not care about you 3) If you hire an individual or a small business, make sure they are seasoned.

To avoid going through the same poor experience, keep reading.Even if someone gives you a referral here, do NOT make the mistake of assuming that the PMC will meet your expectations, just because they met the expectations of the referral source.In our experience, the #1 mistake owners make when selecting a Property Management Company (PMC) is ASSUMING instead of CONFIRMING.It's often a case of not doing enough research, as they don't know what they don't know!

It is possible with finding a SFR I'd stay a few years and consider either keeping it as a rental or selling it and moving into another home.What should I do in my scenario with the information given here?

If you have done a good job saving so far, keep saving, keep stockpiling, keep learning.

These factors didn't keep me from buying though, while watching some other small markets in the region where average nightly rents were sometimes higher. 

I don't see any other way to keep security deposit untouched.2.

Here are some key considerations and potential pitfalls to keep in mind as you plan this approach:Market Research and Property Selection:Local Market Conditions: Ensure that the Tahoe area's real estate market is stable or appreciating.

The issue with islands is that it means Caribbean.