Make sure you job is stable, you have reserves, your credit is where it should be, you do your diligence on the city to ensure it has staying power, you do your diligence on the property, estimate costs correctly, etc.

I've tried using City-Data and some of the federal websites.

My name is Roland T Craddolph, and I live in the Greater KC area. I am completely new to the real estate investing world, and looking forward to learning more about it.  I am a Business Process Architect at Commerce B...

So I'd check with city code book and see what's required,, all that humidity has to go somewhere,, and inside isn't where it belongs.Even if it was a private home,, the amount of moisture staying inside is bad for your house structure,, mold issues, paint peeling, rot, over time it will become a bigger problem

My biggest STR has a Jacuzzi on the 3rd floor. 

Sometimes it's the town/city, sometimes the county.Once you figure out who actually controls road repair, then you can figure out who you have to makes calls to.

Lack of inventory is my biggest problem!

The biggest mistake I see is people add employees or don't understand control groups with the solo plans. 

I'm 100% convinced "small city" investing is where it's at.

The City would probably only allow you to load the garages off the alley.