These older guys operate as if it was 1975, uninformed or think in the old SF rinse and repeat mode, so ensure you up date them as to predatory lending issues and move their thinking to acceptable practices.

@John CrimminsHey John, i am following a florida/disney model.

High DTI folks didn't survive the GRC.  

I am going into info gathering mode.

Contract employees are well worth the money while you are in growth mode.  

If I do X, then in Y years, Z will occur, and we're 85% sure of that outcome, based on the model"There are definitely times a model has been incorrect (it predicted something, but the real outcome was different)...but, even when a model is wrong, it teaches you something--and with that info, you can make even better models.Another drawback of building the models myself is that it took a lot of time--I probably could have saved time by adapting an existing model...I initially tried to adapt some existing models I found online, but they weren't easily adaptable to my specific circumstances/variables/goals/usage--which is why I ended up building my own models...

I have been mostly in data analysis mode, checking into areas and studying population data, sales data, expected growth data and what companies are coming to the area.

Because of the climate, only certain kinds of materials survive.

It is mindsets and philosophies like yours that bridge gaps, move mountains, and aid in the survival of itty bitty fishes attempting to brave predatory open ocean waters in the REI ecosystem.

STR comps is not like regular rental comps however as each STR business model is different and each host is different so getting data on someone else's success (or failure) as an STR owner is not necessarily indicative of what you might see.