If you're just starting out and let's say the property is pretty close by, I don't see the harm in checking it out.

We don’t know any PMCs to recommend in the area mentioned, but since selecting the wrong PMC is usually more harmful than selecting a bad tenant, you might want to read our series about “How to Screen a PMC Better than a Tenant”:https://www.biggerpockets.com/member-blogs/3094/91877-how-to-screen-a-pmc-better-than-a-tenant-part-1-services-and-processesWe recommend you get management contracts from several PMCs and compare the services they cover and, more importantly, what they each DO NOT cover.

they get tighter as innocent owners of real property get harmed in some manner.1. having wholesaler look them in the eye and tell them their 100k property is only worth 30k.. and an unconscionable profit has been taken by someone leaving the owner who no doubt this real estate was their number one financial holding. 

There is no harm in learning if that is what you want to do before you get this going. 

We don’t know any PMCs to recommend in the area mentioned, but since selecting the wrong PMC is usually more harmful than selecting a bad tenant, you might want to read our series about “How to Screen a PMC Better than a Tenant”:https://www.biggerpockets.com/member-blogs/3094/91877-how-to-screen-a-pmc-better-than-a-tenant-part-1-services-and-processesWe recommend you get management contracts from several PMCs and compare the services they cover and, more importantly, what they each DO NOT cover.

I perfectly understand the strategy of having paid down or paid off homes which creates that "comfort level", but on the flip side, you are storing cash within the walls of your homes earning zero interest or return.In the event of the potential future "crash", the value of your properties going down and holding 30 year mortgages over 15 year does not place you in any more harm's way so long as you manage and keep those rentals filled with tenants.

We don’t know any PMCs to recommend in the area mentioned, but since selecting the wrong PMC is usually more harmful than selecting a bad tenant, you might want to read our series about “How to Screen a PMC Better than a Tenant”:https://www.biggerpockets.com/member-blogs/3094/91877-how-to-screen-a-pmc-better-than-a-tenant-part-1-services-and-processesWe recommend you get management contracts from several PMCs and compare the services they cover and, more importantly, what they each DO NOT cover.

The current standing that lead to a corporate take over starting in mid to late 80's has only harmed our country to enrich a very tiny %.

I had great hopes of building a relationship here, but I feel that not only are they not being helpful, they are being harmful to my bottom line. 

If they don't know, then beware- as they are not properly representing you and protecting you from harm.