This year I have also hired a bookkeeper at $50/hour to take care of the rental aspect of the financials.

You're likely better off hiring a discount broker to list the properties on the MLS for greater marketing exposure to bring in a bigger buyer pool. 

Real estate is playing big - just hiring the wrong contractor can easily cause us to lose $20K.

If you just hire the cheapest or first PMC you speak with and it turns into a bad experience, please don’t assume ALL PMC’s are bad and start trashing PMC’s in general.

I'm definitely still in the exploration phase to see if I will end up going this route, but as I've furnished multiple units, I've realized I don't really enjoy that part of the process nor is design a strength of mine, so if I can hire it out to someone who will do a better job than me for a reasonable price, I will.

We hired our VA's direct, but we use Streamline software

.- Property Management:Managing properties remotely often requires hiring a property manager, adding to your costs.- Increased Travel and Communication:Regular visits and long-distance coordination can increase both time and expense.- Legal and Tax Complications:Navigating different state laws and tax regulations can be complex and confusing.Out-of-state investing can be a great way to grow your real estate portfolio, but weighing the benefits against the potential challenges is essential.

Pay the seller his EMD and hire a lawyer.

You’ll probably find out that if you leave the rent where it is, you’re making less money while doing the management yourself instead of hiring them.

It seems crazy to pay income tax and interest on my wages,  but having myself do the construction is still cheaper than hiring another contractor.