That said, I'm grateful for the alternatives you present--you're keeping the bottom line in mind, so I appreciate your help in exploring options that achieve the bottom line for the investors. 

Anthony, welcome aboard.. it’s always exciting to see new folks exploring the world of real estate investing!

Also, are you focusing on opportunities in your local market, or are you exploring other areas as well?

However, I am not closed to the idea of exploring other markets! 

Feel free to DM me if you'd like more insights on all this (we don't do biz in Alabama so got nothing to lose).Here's some other "copy & paste" advice on how to search for a better PMC:----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Recommend exploring as many sources as possible to get referrals AND cross-reference them to get as much accurate information as possible.Check out NARPM.com, BP’s Property Manager Finder (BiggerPockets: The Real Estate Investing Social Network), etc.Also, encourage you to learn from the mistakes of others - by reading posts here on BiggerPockets about owners not having their expectations met by their current Property Management Company.

I want to explore every avenue to make this work, and I’d even be open to partnering with an experienced motel operator to help bridge my knowledge gap.

Once you've figured that out, take a trip and explore the area a bit and make sure it's an area you're comfortable investing in. 

Please share as I explore using them for my rentals.

Alternatively, explore a self-directed IRA to invest directly in real estate without triggering taxes or penalties.

Alternatively, if you need liquidity for your San Diego move, explore refinancing options on your current properties to tap into some of that equity.