To keep it short and sweet, depending on your deal you should have plenty of options. 

@Dmitriy Fomichenko not sure if you were aware, but depending on your income and circumstances, you can convert that money into a Roth IRA, tax free.A friend of mine lives in Washington state (no state income tax) and his taxable income is about $50k a year.

More control over your living space.Cons: Significant upfront costs (down payment, closing fees), ongoing maintenance responsibility.The answer depends on your goals!

David David,It completely depends on the tenants circumstances. 

These type of businesses are tough to price as the market varies greatly depending on many factors. 

Both can save time and improve efficiency, depending on how hands-on you want to be. 

And good to know you have dependable contractor and realtor, that is a silver lining

Since they are 1099 independent contractors, payroll taxes are not paid by the brokerage so agents have to pay about 20-30% out of the portion of the commission they get to Uncle Sam for income taxes, depending on their tax bracket and individual tax situation of course.

*Eventually* they will come back, which might be in 2 years or 10 depending on how aggressive the tree and bushes are that are nearby.

It depends!