3% for repairs seems low and you don't budget anything for CapX which is typically budgeted somewhere between 5-10% (usually 10%) depending on how new all your big ticket items are (roof/AC/etc.)

Even though out of state means not in your backyard, you can still have boots on the ground since the flights are usually pretty easy in/out from most of the markets mentioned. 

I would inspect the property and see if any big ticket items are due for repair/replacement in the near future - that will give you a better idea of your expense ratios. 

They write off plane tickets, meals and have a place to stay for free.Even if the property loses some money, it is probably offsetting other rental income.

Partnering, crowdfunding, syndication, or buying a plane ticket and flying out to the unit, etc.

My wife just graduated flight attendant school and is immediately being relocated to Chicago.

The Ridge team works with investors and have a plan to help move us through the "ten golden tickets" as Caeli calls them, of conventional loans and into specialty products.They cause us to look at our tax return in a different manner, so that we don't eliminate too much income with an overage of deductions, thereby reducing our ability to refinance later.  

If that is true with the above, then what's the point of having 10 golden tickets?

This would be a worst case scenario, because like you I am not comfortable with managing a property from halfway around the world and plane tickets are astronomical.

A manual background check service can add those records in for you so you know if that person didn't pay a parking ticket or was guilty of domestic abuse.