An LLC isn't necessary when starting, in the long term, it may be worth exploring.

The tech itself is great, but this is the equivalent of letting 12 yr old kids drive on the freeway.

You should know the names of their kids and dogs, and vice versa.  

Have you and your wife considered exploring fully turnkey properties as an option?

I am excited to get started investing in real estate in out of state Long Term Rentals.Outside of real estate, I enjoy spending time with my kids, as well as mountain biking and other outdoor adventure activities.Excited to learn and connect with you all!

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. 

However, they can sometimes be higher due to the additional risk taken on by the lender.With a hard money loan, you typically make interest-only payments during the loan term.No, you wouldn't owe any more interest beyond what has already accrued if you finish the project in 3 months and pay off the hard money loan earlyIt's great that you're exploring different strategies for your real estate investments!

Gradually scale by researching high-growth markets, partnering with experienced investors, and exploring financing options like SBA loans.

It was a humbling experience, knowing he chose me over his previous agent.Success in this business takes time, but as I tell my kids, honesty, integrity, and accountability will take you far and help you sleep well at night.Best of luck!

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.