I am from out of state so wanted less maintenance in the short term while I build my portfolio and grow to the point where I am comfortable hiring a manager!   

My top recommendation is to begin by contacting property management companies in each target area.

In Zillow Rental Manager, click on "properties," then click on your listing.

My first thing is to start built relationships with realtors and property managers.

I have managed to get myself into a bit of a complex situation on my first deal and I'm looking for some advice. 

Or hire a PM company to manage for you?

From there, you have to decide whether you want to be a landlord or hire a property manager.

that we’ve learned in our 24 years, managing almost 700 doors across the Metro Detroit area, including almost 100 S8 leases:Class A Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, 3-5 years for positive cashflow, but you get highest relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% the more recent norm.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 680+ (roughly 5% probability of default), zero evictions in last 7 years.Class B Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, decent amount of relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% should be applied only if proper research done to support.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 620-680 (around 10% probability of default), some blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 5 yearsClass C Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, high cashflow and at the lower end of relative rent & value appreciation.

Trying to get into the nuts and bolts of how he was trying to source a location, project size of preference, what type of financial modeling he does, what kind of tenants he was hoping to attract/the strategy behind it, if he was doing any joint ventures or had done any in the past, if he had taken part in any syndications, what management strategies he was implementing with his current properties to maximize lease uptime and profit, what types of leases he generally favored contracting for his properties--all of that was like pulling teeth.

If I have a homeowner client that wants to play games, I'll gladly help transition them to another manager.