You will have to have an experienced team of contractors under your belt to assess the property and a good realtor who is a great marketer; don't just count on MLS. 

As that will at least help folks that you reach out to know that you are a real person, with a picture and professional bio.

This community offers resources, forums and connections with experienced STR investors to help you succeed.

@Michael HerrenLooking to connect with persons in/near Savannah.

To my understanding the VA only cares that the initial person that purchased the property had the intent to live there and make the home their primary.

Source: got a buddy that knew him personally in college.

The best way to hedge your bets in the right direction and also protect your personal space is to look for uneven multis.What am I talking about?

How do I go about asking the tenant to move out so I can use the unit for personal use? 

The Dominican Republic can be a great place to invest but, personally, Punta Cana would be the last place I'd invest in.Two years ago, during a meeting I had at the Ministry of Tourism in Santo Domingo, one of the head honchos there clearly told me "If I were you, I wouldn't invest in Punta Cana".

Agreeded with the first 2 posts, I've only experienced this once to have damages/ missed payments exceed security deposit.