Nine month lease

[Andrew P.]

I'm a new landlord and am just about to secure my first tenants. I was asking 897 per month rent and they have requested to pay 850. I am using a propery management firm to find tenants because I am not local. Originally I was hoping to get about 1050, but came down to 897 because the property management firm was not finding tenants. So the tenants are about to sign and I am willing to take 850 but I am considering a 9 month lease because a) I feel 850 is under market and do not want to wait 12 months to adjust and b) If the lease starts now in October or early November then I may find myself looking for new tenants in November - December which I would like to avoid. The property management firm suggested pursuing an 18 month lease to get into a better schedule. However, that just extends the below market rent situation. Next summer, I will be local and no longer in need of property management. At least not for marketing/screening tenants and showing the property. I think I will have more luck finding a tenant at 950 - 1000. Do you think 9 month lease is a good idea?