That’s standard practice. 

I have been trying to run numbers in the Houston area on random properties to practice for running my own numbers someday. 

It grows with practice, repetition, and a systematic approach to your business.

If not, what's the common or recommended practice?  

I Would love to share some best practices and resources and just hear what others are seeing/doing in the DC market any and all quadrants of the city.Also wondering where the best RE meetups are locally for the DC market?

I just don't know if this is a practical method, it seems too high compare to if I were to go the banking route - they  would only require me to put down like 20-25%. 

Always check a city’s rent-control laws before investing.

The most common practice among landlords is to do a fully furnished summer rental Memorial day to Labor day and Winter rentals to local college kids.

It’s a great way to practice evaluating deals, running the numbers, and gaining confidence without the pressure of sky-high prices.

MTRs are a sweet spot between long-term and short-term — but some hosts forget there are still rules.
Check your city’s definition of “short-term.” Some areas define it as anything under 30 days; others under 90.Midt...