@Hillary Windrem, if you don't like my advice about aligning yours and you mom's interests in the deal.

They try out a few things and say I can't stand this or a I loved this type of transaction.Once you find out a specific niche you have great joy in then align with a brokerage focused on that path. 

Then, use your cash for furnishings (much less then $75,000).It's important to understand that STR is not real estate investing, it's the hospitality industry and while real estate is a major component, your primary focus will be on your guests and their experience while staying in your property.

I don't see a real value add component for an out of state investor to buy a turnkey product from an out of state company who's got to hope that the actual people on the ground can do the job for the end customer.

Interview PMs, tell them your strategy for investing so they know exactly what you're about and to see if their business approach aligns with yours.

But As depreciation winds down cash flow to justify holding the asset even without depreciation benefit becomes a very significant component.

You get into the rule of the debt financed distribution (and interest component ) and it gets complicated from there.  

They compensation has to be aligned.

No, of course not.The IRS also has a rule regarding "significant personal pleasure" such that travel that has a significant personal pleasure component becomes non deductible. 

It is just one component of 'total return' though.