For newer investors, LTRs tend to be more stable, predictable, and passive, especially when you have a busy career.Turnkey long-term rentals in the Midwest and Southeast can be a smart entry point.

That’s likely because it gains value in a steadier, more predictable way.

So for me, when the Casino has the "open bar" and people are playing drunk, loose, and very predictable making easy $ on the scalp, I scalp. 

It's hard to predict tax increases beyond high cost areas are likely to stay that way relative to other areas.

You might face pushback from HOAs or local governments, so being involved in community conversations and staying compliant with changing ordinances is key.Your interest in using tech to solve these challenges could really make a difference, maybe through smarter guest screening, predictive maintenance systems, or tools that better balance owner-neighbor relations.

However, the objective of my post wasn’t just to highlight their value, but to emphasize how reviews function as an operational KPI directly impacting ROI in short-term rental portfolios.From a performance management perspective, we’re not just talking about reputation — we’re talking about:Ranking algorithms (Airbnb’s SEO model heavily weighs recent positive reviews)Conversion rates (5-star average listings consistently outperform on pricing tolerance)Booking velocity (influenced by review recency and consistency)In our property management operations, we treat reviews as predictive indicators of future cash flow, not just retrospective guest feedback.

Markets like Cleveland, Indianapolis, Birmingham, and parts of Florida or Georgia offer strong cash flow, stable tenant bases, and more predictable rehab timelines, especially through turnkey providers who handle the whole sales process and management for you.Turnkey may not be for everyone, but for new investors, especially those working remotely or looking to grow without juggling multiple rehabs.

I do not try to predict prices in the near term and since 2021 have been doing my underwriting at 0% appreciation for first 5 years and 3% year 6 onwards.  

There is not a real way to predict the appraised value other than doing the homework yourself and perhaps using house canary/zestimate to get an idea. 

Here’s a quick breakdown of how it’s being used:For investors and brokers, AI tools are helping analyze market trends, predict property values, and even find undervalued assets.