. - Good thing is they already having all those sources in place, not to mention laws and regulations and even for eviction purposes.

Look for ExpertiseProperty management is a complicated and highly regulated industry, so you want to make sure you’re working with managers who know all the procedures and regulations for getting things done.Assess their industry expertise and determine how much they know about the rules and requirements for managing your type of property.

I had one tenant move in and request we move the kitchen cabinets down so she could reach everything better....I would make sure to get a hold of them and establish what situations constituent a maintenance request. 

To summarize, sounds like the most important first steps are identifying a goal, establishing a target market (one that I know well or finding an agent to fill that knowledge gap), and sticking to Bigger Pockets for (free) education! 

It's going to be easier to make a spread there between your BAH and actual costs than in Hawaii most likely as everything is expensive in HI.If you haven't established FL residency yet, you could do that to avoid income taxes on the state level.

I would suggest you pick a pm company first then use their inhouse realtor to establish that relationship.

Make sure you establish relationships with some property management companies so you can have some eyes on the property if you can’t be there.

I was never too keen on short term rentals due to the government/regulation risk as the model became more popular with folks trying to score quick wins. 

As the new landlord that will be inheriting their lease, what are the actions that I need to take to make sure I'm in compliance with all relevant regulations? 

Here is everything you need to know about the short term rental market in the Phoenix metro area:https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/546/topics/715624-the-future-of-phoenix-short-term-rentals-airbnbLong story short, have a backup plan in place it gets regulated in the future.