Despite its modest price, the property was ideal for a quick turnaround.

Getting the same rents as some of the properties I was looking at in Columbus for almost 2x the price 

I'm thrilled to begin my journey into buying short-term rental properties.

OR should I be saving to just buy an investment property?

Property manager.

I have 3 properties in the Asheville area: 2 LTRs and 1 STR.

We find properties down this way all the time for 200k - 250k, they need 100k and are worth 450k - 500k after.

Most homeowners shift to winter rentals during those months to keep some cash flow.If you’re planning to use the property yourself for two weeks in the summer, it’s important to keep in mind that it will take away a significant chunk of prime revenue, which will make it harder to break even or generate solid income.If year-round traffic is a key factor for you, you might want to look into areas down south or near a National Park, but with the right property and strategy, Cape Cod can still be a good investment—especially if you’re looking to have something to enjoy and eventually leave to your kids. 

It is truly devastating, and I know so many amazing hosts/properties in that area.

In my experience, REITs are terrible at managing their property.