@Brian Warren I self manage 5 cabins in Pigeon Forge Gatlinburg from a distance and couldn’t be happier.

I've dealt with a few bad tenants before but I'm generally happier with paying a slight premium to get in above the ground floor when it comes to properties and potential tenants. 

I had similar issues myself and switched managers recently to a company that I'm much happier with.

You'll be happier.

I use a property management company and I couldn't be happier.

Couldn’t be happier with our choice. 

I became an agent after investing on a few homes and decided I would be happier doing all the research and paperwork and sales on my own and not depending on someone else.  

However, there is very little incentives for the Landlord to take care of the building and usually leave it in need of repair, pest control, etc.Certain cities like NYC and SF is a must if this is where you want to eventually live for the long term.Rents spike and continue getting higher.Every year for the last 2 decades I keep hearing all the excuses.... it's too expensive to buy in NYC.2 decades ago, when I bought my first Investment, a 2 Family in Brooklyn, was $350k.Today, I can sell that investment for $1.9 Million.BUT, instead of being happy that I have made so much money for that one single property.... what makes me more happier is the fact that I live in that Investment now (I moved back in to this Investment Property this year).All of my relatives that lived in Brooklyn but moved out, either never bought or had bought but sold a long time ago..... cannot any longer afford to buy in Brooklyn anymore.Even renting has become incredibly expensive.As another example of this phenomenon, I had a friend, Steve, who lived in Manhattan.We both invested similarly in to two different properties in 2004.I invested in a 4 Unit property with a Purchase Price of $800k in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.

I use Tenant Cloud and couldn't be happier with them.

The more a broker/agent says YES to business they want and NO to potential business that is not a good match the happier they tend to be.I count sellers and buyers as not having the right mindset as my ideal client and they can go elsewhere.