I am about to close on my first STR in Panama City Beach, and would like to try and get people in there for the winter months to help cover the costs and lessen the maintenance burden. 

@Quan TruongAs a licensed real estate agent and insurance agent in Houston, TX, you can effectively lead your real estate journey by partnering with other investors, lenders, and property managers.

The cost of entry is low while the cash flow is high

But, it also means more work in managing, tricky loan processes, higher start-up costs, and the risk of market changes.Lubbock, with its high need for rentals and low-cost living, is a top spot for duplex buyers.

Now, consider some solutions: submetering is an option, allowing for individual usage tracking, but be cautious about upfront installation costs and regulations.

Operating costs are known and everything is new, so reserve levels are usually tiny as there is a long time to build them up before they need to be tapped. 

I'm looking at a low cost of living area that's plagued with a housing shortage. 

Thus, it does little good to garner high cash flow from these rentals only to spend it in higher maintenance, management, and legal costs.

So many new investors that live in high cost of living areas look to the midwest or other cheap areas to invest. 

This is especially true if the property requires significant upkeep or if the heirs live far away.Owners of Distressed PropertiesSellers who own homes in poor condition and can't afford the necessary repairs may prefer to sell as-is rather than invest time and money into renovations.Landlords with Problematic TenantsLandlords who have been dealing with problematic tenants, frequent vacancies, or costly property damage might want to offload the property quickly to cut their losses and avoid further hassles.Owners Facing Major Life ChangesSignificant life changes, such as health issues, retirement, or downsizing, can motivate people to sell their property quickly.