It seems to me you could work somewhere easy and fun part-time that was flexible (bar tend, coffee guy, whatever) make 2 or 3k a month (after a year or so off) and still have all your rental income and many respectable ladies out there would think you were a catch! 

Update - got a second offer before realtor lady got the sign in the yard.

said....even though it seems opposite in some ways to what I am saying--(That's the Duality of Man--like in Full Metal Jacket).And since he's nice enough to offer to talk to you on the phone---a GOOD Real Estate Guy would Never pass up that offer---he is very sucessfull at what he does...and neither of you know where this conversation will lead...So as a much more experienced Real Estate Guy than you---I'd advise you to "Let you Fingers do the Dialing" and pop him a call ASAP...before he forgets about you and has to put more of his focus on housing people.In other words (don't (not) call and waste a HUGE opportunity for some GREAT Advice)just my 2 cents. 

I have rented to this lady in the past and she is a good renter.

Good luck.Or, go gangster and chop the guys fingers off one by one each day they don't make good.

so here is the deal: I am under contract right now on a 3/2 townhouse in San Jose, CA hoping to close soon (fingers crossed!).

I also only hired Subcontractors that were also similar in their approach.I was asked to bid a project for a lady who knew me through her neighbor, to do a master bedroom/master bath remodel.

So fingers crossed!

I have 2 homes in PA, and was going to rent in LA until I found the right deal, but this all came up so fast and I don’t want to let it slip through my fingers.

That's why I have more STRs than all my fingers and toes.