Not that there is a right or wrong answer, just curious as to your meaning.  

That way you also would have a lower loan balance (because each month you have been paying down the loan) and there may be some appreciation.

There isn't a need to message through AirBNB at any point.

Once we're there, or a bit before, I'll be looking for buy and holds or potentially fix and flips in the area, so please keep me in mind. 

Do you have a team out there?

I know this because my wife's family lives there.

Is there a cap to how many loans you can have?

Is it feasible....if the structural integrity of the house is maintained, are there other issues to consider. 

There’s a major advantage here, especially for the seller, as it can help them defer capital gains taxes.

As mentioned, there are 2 major approaches: contractor or DIY to resolve.Contractor: Get bids and charge the tenant what it costs you.DIY: Tally your materials and labor cost, then charge your tenant.