So it needs to be balanced out and not by the same person.

If you can go to some in person, all the better, but even just looking up FB groups for investors in that area or even "real estate" in that area. 

So personal preference and your goals. 

Quote from @David Eyal: This is actually very simple: don't get involved in personal issues.You offer them a renewal.

With seller financing, the person selling the house lends you the money, and you pay them back directly.

I am currently not in the US and won't be able to see the house in person.

Even personally holding the discussions with the tenants potentially damages YOUR outcome.Landlord Representation in SF

Getting the right folks involved in the STR is critical to success. 

I know there are risk involved like market down turn, not selling for ARV, higher than expected renovation cost, etc, but I'm really worried about people just taking the money and running away with it.

@Braden Heard start farming & growing your personal network to find deals that you can start out wholesaling, then flipping, then buy & hold as rentals to build wealth.Per this NY Times article, the average American knows around 600 people.https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/19/science/the-average-american-knows-how-many-people.html#:~:text=The%20average%20American%20knows%20about,do%20you%20know%20named%20Kevin%3FPer the US Census Bureau, the average American moves 11.7 time in their life, which based upon an approximate lifespan of 84 years, works out to be about every 7 years.https://www.census.gov/topics/population/migration/guidance/calculating-migration-expectancy.html#:~:text=Using%202007%20ACS%20data%2C%20it,one%20move%20per%20single%20yearSo, if the average American knows 600 people and they each move about every 7 years, that means that the average American knows around 85 people that move in any given year.How many of those moves do you want to be involved in?