Short-term rentals can be a great strategy for building wealth through real estate investing. 

@Keith Freie  Long term look at fence options. 

Yes, this is a nuanced issue that has real-world implications for enforceability and title insurance coverage in Alabama.Alabama is primarily a mortgage state.

Proper Insurance and Steadily Insurance are the 2 market leaders for short term rental insurance.

The tenants get discounts on renters insurance, they get accident coverage if they accidentally break something, they get moving concierge services, utility setup services and they also get access to a 24/7 maintenance number.

Quote from @Michelle Potter: Long-term, buy and hold rentals.

Litigating with a title insurer that has disclaimed coverage?

Here's how we handled it:Carpet removal to prevent mold and speed dryingIndustrial fans and a dehumidifier brought in immediatelyDrywall and baseboard cut 6–8 inches from the floor (no moisture detected with a meter, but we didn’t want to risk it)96-hour drying period with equipment running continuouslyDrywall & painting contractor brought in for a full room (and full house, once we committed to a complete re-pipe)New carpet and padding orderedRe-pipe scheduled and completedThe Cost Breakdown:Carpet and Padding: $527.84Drywall, Trim, Paint, Finish Work: $2,200.00Paint Supplies: $87.70Full Re-Pipe: $5,242.20🔻 Total Out-of-Pocket: $8,057.74Yes, we’ve submitted an insurance claim and are optimistic about some coverage, but this situation reinforces a point I think many newer investors overlook: you must be well-capitalized.The Reserve Rule We Live By:We personally aim to keep a minimum of $10,000 in reserves per door.

Only because you can still buy a Single family home for under $175K and a 2-4 family MF home for under $200K.Rents in majority of these state are in line with Texas and in many of these states if you elect to cater to STR short term rental income you can quadruple your cash flow.

We work with a lot of long-term rental investors in secondary and tertiary markets, and the area you're exploring has a lot of the traits people look for when trying to balance affordability with solid rental demand.