All that opportunity cost incurred because I didn’t feel ready to go big.  

If you can't keep control of your personal finances, you are highly unlikely to succeed in real estate investing.

Also feel free to contact me to get on my cash buyer list for future deals.Thanks, Art Weller

Currently my hot tub maintenance person says I need to schedule her to come out to the property after every turnover to poor chemicals in and clean the tub.

Hi Nina.If I were not experienced in land lording and property manager, I would look personally to the extent you want to learn or experience property management versus hiring someone else that you trust to do the job.Yes, the cost for a property manager is important but not essential- the cost between property managers are not double or triple the cost of others (say like attorneys in some areas of law or cars). 

Feel free to DM me and I can give you more info. 

Keep in mind a deal for one person might not be a deal for another based on the strategy they are using to build their portfolio. 

But designing feels like it requires a different part of the brain.

It may make you feel warm and fuzzy that you have them "locked in" for 2 years, but its an illusion.

First qualified person that give a deposit gets the place.