That said, long-term the appreciation you get in the Puget Sound region is superior to many other markets, so assuming you find an excellent property management company that is able to screen tenants and only put in very well qualified, vetted occupants and you experience limited issues over the holding period, you'd likely come out ahead retaining the Mill Creek property if your financially able to do so and still buy wherever you are headed out of state.

Go to BUILD YOUR TEAM at the top of the screen and look for local investors or meetups in your area.

@Mark Ainley and @Brie Schmidt are more experienced than I am and may have other good thoughts on tenant screening.

It is increasingly common for a PM to charge a "leasing fee" which covers all the costs of marketing, showing, screening, placing tenant under contract, collecting deposit and rent, setting up utilities, getting the tenant placed, etc.If the PM can't justify the cost, then they shouldn't be charging it.

Find a qualified agent willing to work only on a flat fee to write up the contract and other legal requirements.

So, the first question they usually ask a PMC is about fees - instead of asking about services and HOW those services are executed.EXAMPLE: PMC states they will handle tenant screening – what does that specifically mean?

Learn in the field, not on a screen.3.

Go to BUILD YOUR TEAM at the top of the screen and look for local investors or meetups in your area.

More of a simple screening tool, and at least I have some kind of idea for who to go after if there are damages of fraud. 

If you hire an agent, recommend you still process applications and do your own screening to avoid conflict of interest issues.If you hire a PMC, make sure you ask a LOT of questions about their screening procedures, to make sure you get a tenant you want.