Higher cashflow, get started quicker than finding a tenant (= higher cashflow), less likely to experience heavy damage, etc...We automate the entire process (pricing, messages, check-in, and cleaners turn the place over, etc...), but you can also easily find a property manager.Plus airbnb is growing - only 12% of americans even know of airbnb.

This will be instrumental for a successful future.

But there is a lot of room to automate operations as most owners are mom and pops (i.e. super inefficient).

The way I think about it is the value of your time vs. the value of learning.Hiring a property management company (theoretically) saves you time.Self-managing facilitates learning and (hopefully) automating your processes.I don't think that one is necessarily more valuable than the other - it's more a question of what's most valuable to you.

There are some great options out there which can help you by breaking out those fees, and also offers automated maintenance tracking, and fast rent collection (via ACH or debit/credit card).

Mainly, the systems implemented are fascinating (VA, automated offers, etc.)

ACCEPTANCE: This instrument will become a binding contract when accepted by the Seller and signed by both Buyer and Seller.

I feel that having this automation would save me a lot of time looking around at adds myself.

See Garn St Germain"A lender may not exercise its option pursuant to a due-on-sale clause upon--, (1) the creation of a lien or other encumbrance subordinate to the lender's security instrument which does not relate to a transfer of rights of occupancy in the property; (2) the creation of a purchase money security interest for household appliances; (3) a transfer by devise, descent, or operation of law on the death of a joint tenant or tenant by the entirety; (4) the granting of a leasehold interest of three years or less not containing an option to purchase; (5) a transfer to a relative resulting from the death of a borrower; (6) a transfer where the spouse or children of the borrower become an owner of the property; (7) a transfer resulting from a decree of a dissolution of marriage, legal separation agreement, or from an incidental property settlement agreement, by which the spouse of the borrower becomes an owner of the property; (8) a transfer into an inter vivos trust in which the borrower is and remains a beneficiary and which does not relate to a transfer of rights of occupancy in the property; or (9) any other transfer or disposition described in regulations prescribed by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board.

Borrower shall occupy, establish, and use the Property as Borrower's principal residence within sixty days after the execution of this Security Instrument (or within sixty days of a later sale or transfer of the Property) and shall continue to occupy the Property as Borrower's principal residence for at least one year after the date of occupancy, unless Lender determines that requirement will cause undue hardship for Borrower, or unless extenuating circumstances exist which are beyond Borrower's control.