Somehow they manage to live with it.

Just want to drop the message here, anyone located in Dubai or distanced managing properties there?

Your property management company can help once you own the property but up until then you need someone good on your side!!! 

@Andreas Mathews admirable, but make sure you do some research so you understand what a PM can make.Starting your own PMC business will require 75-150 doors to make a decent living, depending on gross rents and your fee structre.Working for a SFR PMC as a PM, will require a RE license and you usually get paid a percentage of the gross rents the portfolio of owners/properties you manage generates.

I have quite a few clients from upstate NY who have properties under my management in Florida.Just a thought ;)

I work with Property Management in Houston but can recommend some great networking/educational events for you :) Check out Space City REI - there's monthly meetups with an educational speaker relating to real estate investing and there are plenty of Investors looking for Wholesalers out there! 

I’ve been looking into areas like Oakhurst, Mariposa, Yosemite West, and surrounding towns.If you own or manage a vacation rental in this region, I’d love to hear about your experience.

What is killing me is after factoring in property taxes of about $9000 for the year and 10% of the rents $6.720 for property management as well as insurance factored at another $2400.

The current one lasted 8 years and needs to be replaced (as per what our property manager is saying)I heard front loaders could leak, so I typically only do top loaders for rentals.

I would try and manage it yourself if you have the time and effort.