Since I am out of state I rely heavily on trustworthy & knowledgable input.

I don't have that experience or too much knowledge outside of my own research.

If you're planning on only living there 1-2 years, rent may not change THAT much, so calculate what the rent would likely be right now for your side as well. 4.

Is it an automated voice attendant, is it a call center where you are routed to someone else eventually to get an answer, or is it a live, well trained staff member?

Super knowledgeable and takes integrity and his Christian faith into all the deals he does.

A good real estate accountant can save you thousands of dollars by leveraging entity selection and formation, tax deductions, cost segregations, bonus depreciation and tax planning.I recommend finding an accountant who specializes in real estate taxation, business taxation, financial planning and tax planning.You may want to consider working with your accountant remotely to expand your options.I would also recommend looking for a accountant willing to work with you throughout the year.

It is very user-friendly for you as the landlord, and my tenants have had no problems using it as well.

Well...they can, but they would be lying or just plain wrong!

And you get some decent appreciation as well, unlike the midwest where appreciation is minimal. 

I'll just add that in addition to offsetting future tax liability, I'd like to offset current taxes as well, during my highest earning years.