(With invested capital, this matters, plenty of people are worth "taking a shot on" in other capacities, just not with respect to managing my money).2) "Is this investment where I'm giving you money the top priority in your professional life?" 

Long term rentals are easier to manage and come with less risk.

Then pay them a fee for finding the deal and pay them 8-10% of rents to manage the rental(s).

The clients we work with who have found success letting us help them find highest and best use of properties, then we manage them for a year, and then pull out 60-70% of their money, and do it again - rather than waiting several years for a home run hit. 

Yes, I'm a Property Manager in the greater Phoenix area.We are a mid-size property manager, large enough to have great tools and support but small enough to provide personal service.

Are you currently self-managing or do you have a management company?

If you can find an investment that pays for itself, you won't be so nervous about investing.I also recommend you educate yourself on how to manage well.

Not a rookie - While I have never purchased a home without an agent, I have purchased two homes in the last fifteen years in Denver and, at some point, managed both with some form of rental income, plus helping my mom manage the independent basement apartment in her home.

The key to investing out of state is finding a good property manager.  

Or hire a PM company to manage for you?