I know people who have been successful with STRs, but it's hard to run the numbers without an AirDNA subscription. 

Make sure you are using good % for your capital expenses, monthly maintenance, vacancy estimate, and property management fee on top of your taxes and insurance.

They pay you for the house, the wholesale fee or whatever mark up that would be done for providing the service.

For this option to pay off, it seems that I would want to minimize transaction fees, and find a place that will have low vacancy rates on the rental market and is likely to appreciate quickly.

however as I stated they are not keen on pass through escrows  so just put your money in first then close and resell.. that's how the locals do it. or get an assignement fee out of escrow.

If you did not and were charged late fees they must be paid before you get a full security deposit back.4. 

Look at the filing fees and if you have a day job time off and decide if you will make more then it will cost.  

But if you take a look at the relevant parts, it says something along the lines of "the landlord may charge an administrative fee" of some amount (1% a year I believe).

It’s tough, for one reason, the fees usually kick the apr up into a “high cost” loan on such a low balance which most won’t do.

Being "nice" is going to cause you far more headaches and expenses than ANY other catogory of expenses a rental property has.I have had rental properties for 30 years and EVERY time that I allow a tenant to move in without full deposit, accept late rent,  agree to wave late fees, unmoved grass, etc. it ALWAYS grows in to a bigger more expense problem for me AND the tenant.