We found the deal through an agent we met during one of our off days during a ski trip while driving around the local area.

I plan to self manage it (with occasional trips to Scottsdale) and don't want to incur the upfront cost of furnishing the house to list it as a STR. 

Note, the change in the insured name on the property is usually what trips the bank, if at all, to the title change.

My wife and I did a road trip through Florida and we are jealous you live in St.

I'll take that as a compliment ;-)  However, I do not remember automobiles with 8-track players, I don't think I could pick out an 8-track player if I tripped on one.  

The other house was not VA or FHA loan listed because it had a split in the backyard part of the driveway that would have been expensive to fix and a trip hazard for those loans. 

Limited characters allowed above but my strategy is to acquire Student Housing for long term hold.

You would need a team that supports that semi-local market anyway and you would need to ask yourself how often you would truly want to make those 4+ hour road trips if the same can be done on a plane a few times a year.Best of luck on whatever path you pursue!

Thanks for your help in advance.If you truly travelled back for a rental emergency and it was ordinary and necessary, yes expenses are deductible.But, trust me, both IRS and CPAs have seen people trying to get a deductible personal trip.

Purchase price: $8,000 Cash invested: $25,000 I was on a missions trip to Tanzania and when I got back I had two voicemails from the seller.