If you are planning to use a DSCR loan, lenders will want to see a valid lease, utility bill, or official document supporting you are living somewhere else. 

You need to investigate and figure it out.If you include utilities with rent, I recommend placing a limit so the tenant is responsible for excess use.

I don't want to pick on you but you recently posted about utilizing land trusts and Wyoming LLC's to purchase real estate in Arkansas and also posted questions  suggesting you were unclear on how general liability coverage works/ is issued for a $170K purchase. 

Definitely want to utilize prospective tenants directly paying for background and credit reports during the application process. 

I’m moving out of the house soon and will be living rent-free with my wife at my parents' place in the Bay Area due to some recent life changes.Here’s a breakdown of my situation:Location: Sacramento, CA (4 bed, 2 bath, recently renovated)Current mortgage payment: $3,940/month (including escrow)Mortgage balance: $475,000Current home value: $515,000 - $535,000 (based on comps)Rental estimate: Property management companies are quoting $2,600/month (with fridge/washer/dryer included), but some websites suggest it could go for up to $3,000/month.Planned budget:$540/month for capital expenditures and maintenance$100/month for lawn careTenant to cover utilities (gas, electricity, water)7.5% vacancy rateWe bought the house thinking it would be our forever home, but with our current situation, I’m trying to figure out the best long-term plan.

I can estimate most of the cost, taxes, insurance, utilities, PM fees, and such and I know that should be provided in the expenses but when it comes to the actual maintenance of the property, what strategy do you normally use?

Hi, we have a second home in Oregon that we only utilize every other weekend. 

Primary house purchased cash $965000Spent $75,000 updating/remodelingOther holding expenses to date: $12,600 (annual taxes and utilities for two years)Home now appraised at $1,325,000.00 We are considering selling our primary house, finding another primary that we can live and flip again over two years.

Has anyone utilized this strategy for a longer term and have any feedback? 

You have to audit all of their accounting because inevitably late fees will change every statement, utilities are sometimes billed back (or not at all), and god speed if you have a delinquent tenant.