Mindy:All decking gets slippery here ... we call it winter.

I will NEVER raise your rent if you simply pay on time and take good care of the home... and in fact I have been known to lower rent if tenant says they need to move to something cheaper.. if they have been good up to that point .Along with tenants that can't pay super high utls bills in the winter I will cut rent 100 a month for 4 months.. again tenant retention....but I never really look at this as real cash flow anyway.. its all about getting the asset paid asap.. 100% of income goes to mortgage then maintenance then extra to mortgage.. but again I am not normal I don't think..

Oh and I plan to be there throughout the year except winter.

Expect to charge above average vacation rental rates in July and August to offset vacancies during the winter months.

We'd aim to rent it out, either short-term or on an annual basis, for the next ten years or so and then spend winters down there.Does anyone know a great Realtor in the area who could speak to short-term versus annual rentals in that market?

But I believe in Alaska it has a big perk in the winter time when tenants want to do laundry, they do not have to get bundled up when it's -35 outside to walk around the building, and it adds as a second layer of security for them if someone were to try and break into the building.As far as when a tenant moves out and changing locks there is a simple solution, get key pads.

She basically kicked my roommate and I out because we asked for some heat in the winter.

My other beachside STRs: one sunbrella couch and one leather couch. 

However, this is a small town with bitter cold winters so public transportation and biking is not ideal. ;)

For instance, my four unit has all electric base board heat, which costs me nothing in the winter.