It is the most popular software in the industry and all CPAs know how to navigate it which is nice.

Quote from @Chase Calhoun: ...They were thoughtfully furnished, nice setups, and they actually performed well early on.

Those types of situations can be nice but you can't trust blindly. 

Plus I have a nice stable income that allowed me to quit my job as an electrical engineer.

I'm more picky about cleanliness like when the place isn't thoroughly cleaned, especially dusty light fixtures, blinds and dirty baseboards which has happened a few times in otherwise nice STRs.  

You are going to depreciate it anyway, and if you are providing it, then make it a nice unit (positive experience for your tenants).

The point is, to make an impression doesn't require 'nice' or 'new' just consideration and imagination.

(I’m in Indianapolis and there are plenty of those here) A nice area where you or at least you’d let your kids live is more expensive upfront, but more profitable over a 10 year span.

I personally don't underwrite including appreciation (since it's only a prediction) But I would rather own a nice cabin/beach house for 1mm than 80 or 120 sec 8 houses. 

The unit has a very nice lake view.