If so, self-managing properties might not be the best use of your time - In any case, I'd encourage you to talk to multiple local property management companies, keep the above in mind, and understand how they approach management.In my experience, property management isn’t just about finding the right tenant or collecting rent—especially in a tenant-friendly state like Rhode Island.

(Unfortunately, the investor fell for this gimmick and did NOT get their own 3rd party inspections, appraisals or even visit the properties they were buying, against our best efforts to encourage proper due diligence and follow our check list for their own protection.)So now some people are stuck with properties worth half what they paid (not all RWN members), with no renovation done, and constant repairs and vacancies. 

@Mark HafnerI've been investing internationally for many years but it's very difficult to answer the kind of questions you ask without writing a dissertation so I'd encourage you to ask more precise questions in the forum.

I'd have to do some research on the local market to know if this would meaningfully increase the value and the appeal as a rental in the long-term.

Feel free to DM me if you'd like more insights on all this (we don't do biz in Alabama so got nothing to lose).Here's some other "copy & paste" advice on how to search for a better PMC:----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Recommend exploring as many sources as possible to get referrals AND cross-reference them to get as much accurate information as possible.Check out NARPM.com, BP’s Property Manager Finder (BiggerPockets: The Real Estate Investing Social Network), etc.Also, encourage you to learn from the mistakes of others - by reading posts here on BiggerPockets about owners not having their expectations met by their current Property Management Company.

Thank you Pat for the encouragement and advice!

I encourage anyone reading this and thinking about co-living to pay attention to this part very carefully.

That's actually a meaningful silver lining.  

Thanks Johnny for the encouraging post! 

I'd encourage you to be tight with your lease & learn the local laws so you are compliant.You will definitely be a young landlord but how you handle yourself will set the stage.