Do your homework before you hire.

Let's break down the pros and cons of each approach:Forming an LLC in the State Where the Property is Located:Pros:Compliance with Local Laws: Establishing an LLC in the state where the property is situated ensures compliance with local regulations and laws specific to that jurisdiction.Legal Clarity: It provides clear legal jurisdiction and may simplify any legal proceedings related to the property in that state.Perception: Operating with a local LLC may give tenants and local authorities confidence in your commitment to the community.Cons:Additional Costs: Setting up and maintaining an LLC in another state means incurring additional registration fees, taxes, and possibly hiring local legal counsel.Administrative Burden: Managing multiple LLCs across different states adds complexity to your administrative workload, including extra paperwork and compliance requirements.Tax Implications: You may face tax obligations in both the state where the property is located and your home state, potentially leading to double taxation or complexities in tax filings.Managing Through Home State LLC:Pros:Simplified Management: Handling all properties under a single LLC streamlines administrative tasks, reducing paperwork and simplifying tax filings.Cost Savings: Avoiding the need to establish multiple LLCs in different states saves on registration fees, legal expenses, and ongoing maintenance costs.Consistency: Uniformity in management practices and legal structures may contribute to efficiency and ease of operation across your real estate portfolio.Cons:Legal Exposure: Operating out-of-state properties under a home state LLC may expose your personal assets to the laws and liabilities of the other state, potentially diminishing the liability protection the LLC offers.Compliance Challenges: You'll need to ensure your home state LLC meets the legal requirements for conducting business in other states, which could involve additional filings and fees.Perception and Credibility: Some tenants or local stakeholders may prefer dealing with a landlord who has a local presence, which could impact your reputation or relationships in the community.Ultimately, the decision depends on your specific circumstances, risk tolerance, and long-term goals.

I could hire my real estate attorney but he'll charge me hourly to set it up and I'm not confident this previous will pay anything.

(nice to meet you.)what i can help with is determining how your property might perform as a rental. so let's do that.as you probably know, you need to factor in much more than mortgage / PITI. so:will you self-manage, or hire a PM? 

He should hire a licensed mold inspection company. 

I used to be in marketing and my wife is an interior designer (freelance). 

Do I have enough of a case to hire a lawyer and sue her outside of small claims court? 

You can bet they do quality work or these huge companies would not be hiring them. 

I hired a lawyer who wrote a letter and was able to negotiate loss of just 1 month of security deposit vs 3 months of rent that was earlier demanded by property management company.

@Taylor Cook if you hire a bookkeeper you still need to answer clarifying questions on what the transactions were for.