Also, I like to stay local - the benefit of being able to walk to a rental makes it more valuable to me. 

And you get the benefit of having over 100 past ones to catch up on.Locate and attend 3 different local REIA club meetings great place to meet people gather resources and info.

They aren't networking within the community for your benefit or looking out for the neighbors that surround your investment.The aren't looking for new profit centers that might be appropriate, or proactively building a wait list.I would hire one on the spot if they did.

I found an identical post by Mark D on rentprep dot com.I'm not going to put anytime in responding to a rant.I doubt he is here to benefit from our experience, and his point of view adds nothing to my knowledge, other than pointing out what a bad tenant might sound like in a chatroom.

To my benefit though, I have a feeling that multiple offers drove the price up, but some of those people may have been using financing and this particular home probably wouldn't even appraise at asking.I guess the most ambiguous but accurate response would be: it depends!

I hear you, that can be absolutely true but the benefits are good too.

You should be able to put a revenue dollar amount on what the difference in location is worth. then its just a cost benefit analysis to this specific location. 

Develope a good relationship that benefits both you and the agent and you will find an agent you can trust.  

Another aspect is here health and likelihood of ending up in a nursing home, that sale can come back in her determination of assets to qualify for benefits.

Off Market sellers  have the added benefit of not being emotionally tied to the property.