Lake Wedowee the purchase price is lower but the revenue is much lower than Martin.... basically I am not getting too excited about either of these markets.  

You find a deal, but you’re basically forced to use their preferred vendors—inspectors, attorneys, and management.

Period.Learn some lending basics before you loan a dime to anyone.

My realtor basically said it’s a waste of time for everyone..

It's basically a matching tool—you answer a few questions about your situation, and it connects you with CPAs and tax strategists who specialize in real estate investors.

A few things to think about:• Two years is enough time to benefit from house hacking.If the rent from the other unit can meaningfully offset your housing costs, you’re basically reducing what you’d be paying in rent anyway — and building equity while you live there.• Bellingham’s prices are higher, but demand is steady.Vacancy is typically low, and smaller multifamily properties tend to hold value well.

Then hiring a management company to do that for you will basically make the property break even or sometimes do worse than long term rental. 

When nearby listings start showing more open nights 30 to 60 days out while rates slide, the arbitrage is basically gone.The other big tell for me is the same one you mentioned but flipped.

Most people are just not built for that.So, if you are not analytical, stick to the basics.

The STR world is tough here in Colorado, but the basics of success remain the same: Unique or interesting home or design and furnishings, several fun amenities, and great photographs.