I have also read their book on self-managing.

The engineer can help with this estimate, but local contractors are the top source for getting this info. 

This area is an amazing place to live, and for that reason highly competitive in terms of real estate investing.

With all of the short sales popping up on the MLS I know I will be successful in finding and helping someone.

Earlier this year, we were also posted on Booking.com, and while the listing did produce several reservations, it came with a huge amount of frustration and more last-minute cancellations that we've experienced (significantly more as a %) than the other 2 booking platforms, Airbnb and VRBO.

This will affect how you market a lot.One piece of advice on what you wrote.

I've been burned by this once before, but it's just less stress on me with this informal policy.

-therefore, there won't be any net 'cash flow to cover rent' for years.to be clear, i say this not to say "don't invest out of state." investing out of state is fine. 

Do you have any tips or avenues I can take to help them out with marketing my property to find a renter.

I get it if you have a lot of door under management, but AI still reads like AI, artificial.