The market is tight right now, with higher interest rates, limited inventory, and high purchase prices making acquisitions challenging.

Proactive seasonal maintenance not only improves performance but also helps avoid costly breakdowns during peak usage.

I will say a few things though: Pros:My experience with them improved over the 5 years each year as they added more features, services and personnelThere 10% fee (10% of nightly rates and cleaning fees) is still reasonable for what they do if you don't want to worry about setting up and managing listings, professional photos, payments, guest inquiries, calendars, etc.They basically handle everything up until check in, they then set you up with one of their 'partners' in the area for the rest or you self-manage everything after check-in (I opted for the latter)Their staff is friendly and their owner portal is a really nice feature to go in and look at your portfolio of homes with them in a single space. 

.🏡 Here’s what stands out right now:Strong Short-Term & Mid-Term Rental Demand: With tourism rebounding and business travel climbing, furnished rentals in areas like West Ashley, James Island, and Mount Pleasant are performing well — especially with operators navigating evolving city ordinances.Limited Inventory + High Appreciation: Investors are finding deals in outer submarkets like Summerville, North Charleston, and Goose Creek, where prices remain more attainable and rental demand is solid.Zoning and Regulation Awareness is Key: Charleston’s growth has prompted tighter regulations on development and rentals.

Its in Illinois, so if anybody knows of any state or federal credits that might work, please let me know.thanks Most energy-efficient tax credits, like the federal Residential Clean Energy or Energy Efficient Home Improvement credits, are meant for owner-occupants, not investors or flippers.Buyers might be able to claim credits if the upgrades meet IRS standards, but only if they paid for the improvements.

Usually you can be as in depth as you want, but you should always look to improve your processes from vetting borrowers, improving lending documents, insuring that you are loaning on quality deals, not over extending, and ensuring that you are well protected in the event you may have to take it back in the case of default.1. $250k is enough to do a deal or two, depending on the pricing of the deals & locations.

Cashout refi's are tough to execute with poor credit, and there is no guarantee that paying off old trades with bad history will improve your score. 

It's considered a capital improvement.  

Ned, if you are regarded as a DEALER, then any real property you buy as a DEALER is regarded as INVENTORY, and hence treated as a “cost of goods sold”.

Some of the strongest reasons to raise rent include:Increased operating expensesSignificant property improvements (new flooring, appliances, etc.)Market shifts showing higher rates for similar unitsA strategic portfolio review showing below-market positioningIt’s not just about adding dollars—it’s about maintaining your investment’s performance in a changing economic landscape.But Sometimes, Holding Off Is the Smarter PlayIn the past, I’ve been know to advise some clients not to raise rent—even when they technically could.