You're right---whether a full time owner or a 3 day renter, you can get stuck with a problem child.
However, I think I'll commit a politically incorrect faux pas (like I've never done it before
) and "profile" some of the neighbors one might encounter if the property next to you gets sold:
a) Year round owner.
Probably your best lottery draw, although there are exceptions. The down side: If they suck, you're stuck with them long term, or you move. But 99% of the time you should be fine
b) Snowbird/Snowflake, especially occupying 6+ months and vacant the rest of the year.
Should do fine, they have the pride of ownership and are part of "the hood" when they are here. Usually enlist neighbors help to watch out for their property.
c) Same as b), as well as those who bought for a retirement in the relatively near term, but rent the house out for no less than 1 month leases while they are away.
Again, not usually a problem. They usually have a management company vet prospective tenants and keep the place clean, and again feel invested in the neighborhood.
d) Property bought solely on speculation to rent out, but haven't excluded moving into at some future date. Also renting out for a minimum of 1 month
Getting a bit less desirable, but usually responsive to legitimate complaints
e) Property solely bought as an investment to run THE BUSINESS of STR/Airbnb. Motivated solely by income, will rent to anyone, couldn't care less about the neighborhood or the community. And what type of renter does such a place attract? Certainly not a nice 65 year old couple looking seriously at moving here. No, it attracts 20 somethings, young families with kids, especially teenagers, partiers who view TV as centrally located, bargain hunters, maybe someone with an RV looking to stay in one place for a little bit. Late night drunken parties?? why not? Kids run amok??? sure. Disrespect neighbor's property. Of course.
So, yes, there is no arbitrary time frame for getting a good or bad neighbor, but which scenario do you think is most likely to yield the proverbial rotten apple? And of course, if STRs were such a good thing, why are all these people on TOTV complaining. Why has Clearwater effectively banned them. Why has Orlando and now NYC taken steps to severely curtail their proliferation?
There are appropriate places for STR---they're called motels
If the identity of TV is a 55+ active lifestyle retirement community, then we should take steps to preserve our identity before we become a motel shantytown, with all the crime and other problems that come with that.