You may or may not want to keep your current home as a rental, depending on how well it would cash flow. 

There is also an ease of financial management; it's easier to keep business and personal finances separate.

Then offer him a deal for $1500yr to keep it green instead a tractor storage facility.

Not an indictment on you, but you might get lumped in with others and their bad attitude/behavior, just due to the fact you live in Cali.I would just move and keep looking for a good fit.

Also, in my lease for tenants, it states that the tenants are responsible for paying for heat utility.In New York City between the months of October and May, landlords have to have to keep the heat a certain temperature.My question is, am I still responsible for keeping the temperature at a specific number if I placed mini splits in each unit and that my lease says that the tenant(s) are responsible for paying the heat utility?

Reason for keeping it is to keep skin in the game in case we want to relocate back to our hometown (wife likes the security).

Keep up with news on the local economy and meet other investors to gain more know-how. 

He has even come to my personal house to pick up money and some things I ordered from Amazon to be installed in the property, and fronted some of his own money to keep things moving while I wait for the draw from my lender to clear.

I woulder if the new owner will keep it a STR and how the numbers will possibly work for them?

Im also biased though, but while most other hot markets have appreciated 30-40% over the past couple years, several Gulf Shores properties have appreciated even 100% or more, and there is still a ton of opportunity for it to keep growing rapidly.