You will meet people from different walks of life that will give you different perspectives. 

There are documents that normally third parties will ask you about your 'status'If you work with a property management company, theoretically, they are suppose to withhold money on your behalf which trigues you having to file a return.You may be required to file a 1040NR which is different than the 1040 form that Citizens / Residents file.

Additionally, thinking about investing in different property types or enlisting the help of a trusted property management firm may be wise choices.

You may also need a different insurance policy since it would be a rental and not owner occupied.

You need to keep track 100% and not give the owner any grief about a PM contract in place that prohibits a different agent from selling the property while you have the PM agreement.I also want to see that you offer compensation to tenant representation in case I have tenants for your properties. 

I could put numbers into this model, look at different possible outcomes, and see if a deal made it through the first steps of financing.

And honestly, a few 1/100ths of a percentage doesn’t make a huge difference in the monthly note.

I'm guessing it would be easiest for them to come two weeks before their move in date and get an Airbnb and tour different options and make a decision quickly like you said. 

The strategies can be different. 

Different states have different rules, and saving a buck here is stupid.