The other house was not VA or FHA loan listed because it had a split in the backyard part of the driveway that would have been expensive to fix and a trip hazard for those loans. 

Your lender threw you under the bus.

You would need a team that supports that semi-local market anyway and you would need to ask yourself how often you would truly want to make those 4+ hour road trips if the same can be done on a plane a few times a year.Best of luck on whatever path you pursue!

Thanks for your help in advance.If you truly travelled back for a rental emergency and it was ordinary and necessary, yes expenses are deductible.But, trust me, both IRS and CPAs have seen people trying to get a deductible personal trip.

Purchase price: $8,000 Cash invested: $25,000 I was on a missions trip to Tanzania and when I got back I had two voicemails from the seller.

There are no deals to be had within a day's round trip drive of where you live? 

I actually got it under contract while riding on a bus in the middle of Poland!

I would give the tenant two options:Option 1: Delay repair until the tenant is back from their trip and then have them coordinate directly with your contractor to schedule the repair visits during mutually (tenant & contractor) convenient dates and times. 

I never wish to be the 'bus bench Realtor' sponsoring the little league games and wearing a branded name tag around town.

Don't get tripped up on step 4 before you take step 1.