Should I sell or rent my primary after I move?

[Nicole Heasley Beitenman]

Hi BP! 

I'm in the process of looking for a MFH to house hack. I've been house hacking a SFH for the last 2-1/2 years. I didn't know much about REI and thought it was my "starter home." Now that I want out, the numbers don't work out well as a pure rental. I won't lose money, but once you add in reserves for maintenance, vacancy, and capex, the rent I need to cash flow is pretty high above market.

I just refinanced a few months ago to free up my eligibility for an FHA loan, and the appraisal came back about $18k over my loan on it. I know I want to sell, I just don't know if I should hold onto it for a year, rent it out, and clean it up a bit, or sell it as-is. I will probably reach out to the agent who sold me the house to get her opinion. Are there any other considerations I should take into account as I make this decision?

TIA!