I have 0 experience managing STR properties, but lots of experience using Airbnb from my travels 😅 I am halfway reading Avery Carl’s book on STR.

Getting a rental license as an out-of-state investor is doable, but you’ll need to manage inspections and compliance.

Making sure we can manage our own properties in these areas.  

Their pro formas felt optimistic with providing 6% annual appreciation and property management that is only about 6% of rent so I take it with a grain of salt (they offer their own property management services but it has terrible reviews on Yelp so I would probably go with someone else). 

I know that RTR positions themselves as “turnkey” but the reality is that they are more of a hybrid model - they set you up with everything you need and facilitate relationships with lenders, insurance, property managers, and so forth - but they are not the actual service providers.

You are definitely going to want to get a lawyer and as soon as possible.This will sound harsh.In your story, you have made a number of very poor decisions about how you purchased and managed this property. 

Would love feedback from anyone with personal investing and/or property management experience in these cities.

The current one lasted 8 years and needs to be replaced (as per what our property manager is saying)I heard front loaders could leak, so I typically only do top loaders for rentals.

We manage several hundred rental properties throughout the San Diego market and I found your post very interesting. 

.- I would highly suggest you plan on using a property management company.