Sounds like they have pretty solid ground to do this - the realtor behaved unethically.

I've done a couple of out of state L/Os and I would call a property management company to show the house and use craigslist to market it.You have to have someone on the ground though and sometimes finding a good PM is hard.

Coming from an internet marketing back ground; the name of the game in virtual real estate is traffic.

Even though they are not supposed to, it is a frequent occurrence for tenants to apply the security deposit to the last month's rent.

Assuming that you would rebuild the property if it were to burn to the ground, getting an ACV policy means that you are self-insuring for the difference between the depreciated value and the cost to rebuild.If you can afford to do that, and if you don't mind retaining that risk, then you can save money on your premiums.

But if interest rates head back up I suspect calls will become much more frequent.  

I feel stupid asking this question, but I am a very frugal person and frequently my frugal-ness interferes with efficiency in my life.

A lot of people think it's a push button business,  but it definitely takes some boots on the ground leg work.  

If you're that frustrated because you can't see the properties that are 1200 miles away and you don't have someone on the ground that you trust there then put that on the back burner for now or find someone in those housing markets thats on the ground and can operate in your best interest when you can't be there.

Also, a new 7M sq.ft. office building at Bay 101 for 8,000 employees will break ground soon.