Pamela,As this stage early on I would utilize this forum to see who will really spend the time to answer your other questions.

It is no different than any other utility - are you liable if your tenants misuse the water or electricity (i.e. grow op, unlicensed home brewer, etc)?  

Hello @Duc Ong I would recommend utilizing services such as Angie's List or a website called Thumbtack.

I recommend to use BP as a dictionary and learning the jargon, strategies, etc and utilizing meet ups to learn the market.

I am looking at low down payment owner-occupied options through a portfolio lender at 5% with PMI, that will go away once reaching 80% LTV (so will get some extra cashflow after approximately year 7).In my analysis I account for Expenses including (common utilities, taxes, property management (10%), Long term maintenance (10%), short term maintance/repairs 95), legal, misc, vacancy (7%) etc, etc.)

The fact that people are moving in, and there are jobs that can sustain the market is the reason prices are so much higher than they used to be (still much lower than such major metropolitan areas such as New York, DC, or pretty much the entire West Coast).

But once in a while, we'll have a property owner only utilize us for listing their property and finding a tenant. 

Mortgage is one expense, but there is also taxes, insurance, utilities, home owners association and repairs.

Secondly, is $2000 a month for rent sustainable long term?  

ok, now the next question would be what kind of financial options do you have to utilize?