We found that we only rented our property from May to August, so we had an 8 month vacancy (although occasionally we would find a longer term tenant during the off months).

Buy a small apartment in the city and a small second house upstate that I can rent out occasionally (or not at all).Buy an apartment here in Manhattan that offers live/work occupancy so my partner can work from home and pay me his office rent (so he'll be better off as well).    

Electric heat is terribly inefficient from a cost stand point but since we only use the rec room occasionally it works great.

Sometimes I use Dawn dish soap (if lots of lanolin); other times I use laundry detergent.  

She does occasionally get a client that's a guest.

CO detector, 10 year battery life is required in California.Most detectors are sensitive to dust and creating emitting occasional nuisance sound even you replaced the battery.Chk on fire resistant door burning time and escape hanging ladder requirements( more than 1 story) in your area.

Yes, Merced occasionally has auctions on the courthouse steps. 

I see it occasionally, not very common. 

Occasionally, I'll change out the filter, if I remember, when I go there.

i prefer to be where most of the market is. i love booking.com, but they occasionally offer me ways i can get more people with this or that program. involves higher commission or giving discounts. just stay with the crowd and present your listings how you see fit.