Hiring a contractor to assist with repairs and a property management company to manage rental.

Yes, there are property management companies, but not sure if I would 100% trust them. 

I see there are some recommended companies on here.

Travel nurses are making bank and sometimes I think the locums companies provide lodging.

In this option your agent would either get paid from you directly in your closing costs OR from the seller via seller concessions.like Russell said, if you are comfortable with the transaction and understand what you are signing and you don't need things explained and you have connections with inspections and title companies then go for it.

I'm located north of Houston, Owned a Real Estate Mortgage company years ago.....

Go search the topic "Lifestyle Asset University" here on Bigger Pockets and you will see a longer thread with a lot of opinions (most are not members) but still worth a read as there are a half a dozen paid members from our group who have commented on that thread.We were formerly called Lifestyle Asset University, but I didn't realize that you couldn't use the word University in your company name here in Utah so we changed our name to Vodyssey. 

I used to work with a property management company that managed 30+ STR's.

I work for Evernest, a full-service PM company, here in Birmingham. 

Also a good pm company will provide a P&L every month.