@Thomas Ingrao It's hard to find a solid agent at that price-point...you're really scraping the bottom of the barrel in the talent pool.

So this personality type isn't necessarily going to be the hands-off type that you need to sell your service to.What would be cool is to put together an investment buying group, whereby you pool dollars to buy various STRs, and your service to that company is the various things you outlined. 

We rented a house with its own amenities (pool and hot tub) and on a canal.

Pool, playground, clubhouse, etc. may be an opportunity for value add if more pads are not an option. 

Needs roof, paint, flooring, pool is unusable.

Also, when you decide to sell, you’ll be cutting out a significant portion of the buyer pool because many people wouldn’t consider purchasing a home on leased land.For cash flow purposes, also keep in mind that your annual land lease fee (at least for Chase’s Ocean Grove) is all paid up front by Mid-March for the upcoming season.

In addition, the living room has extensive glass sliding pocket doors that open up to the backyard, where a swimming pool and patio await.

I am looking at the LA desert region in general and want to consider La Quinta for a pool home STR. 

Does one offer amenities the other doesn't (pool, gym, etc)?

We are concerned with personal liability on the property, say if someone is injured or (god-forbid) drowns in the pool.