@Paola AstridRecommend 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.

Nowadays many vacation homes are priced as STR businesses with profits baked into the price (with future guests expecting instagram furnishings).  

Certainty in this industry is merely an illusory facade - costs and timelines often exceed expectations by double.

Yes, #1 isn't exactly true, but it makes a point that not every landlord and rental can expect to get an A/B class tenant.

(It sounds like you might have done that already) If you have a realtor in that market maybe ask them what the comps are for your unit to make sure it's not higher than you expect.

If the marginal cost increase in buying a house that can be house hacked (a house with a basement, a duplex, etc.) is less than the rents you expect to bring in from renting the additional space, why not do it?

Since the property is in Los Angeles County, I expect the eviction could take 4-6 months, followed by another month or two to secure new tenants.

If the pipe is 50 years old and had a life expectancy of 30 years, they're going to argue it was due to lack of care on your part and try to deny the claim. 

I would not expect a meaningfully lower rate and pmt for likely several years. 

We got our required and expected profit that we calculated at the very beginning.