Also keep in mind rural usually means lower quality tenant pool and guaranteed higher vacancy rates.What are your vacancy/eviction estimates and legal, advertising, accountant, utilities while vacant, office, vehicle etc. 

The consensus is that different types will generate different response rates and differing quality of leads.For example, apparently yellow letters generate a large volume of phone calls, but low quality leads.

it all depends on the quality of the agent and if they are worth the 3%.

I have a list of homes we would like to see already in:Montgomery, Walden, Bloomingburg, Marlboro and Unionville.I would also like this realtor to possibly work with me as I start flipping homes in the area after the move.Send me any quality recommendations.Brian

Go check out Open Houses and pay attention to pricing, what are the finishes (materials, quality, etc.)

Really it is a matter of if you think your quality of life improves to the tune of $100k if you get the new place, or is it really just the pool that is missing.

Ultimately, just be a good tenant and keep the place clean, safe, and functional, as in the case of any good quality rental.  

I think you will keep your tenants longer term, have a higher quality of tenant and make more money!

In a different part of town, the owner may accept that price, but once you own the property, you may find the area is undesirable and it is difficult for you to easily find high quality tenants.

I will also add that some of the surrounding Austin areas have great schools(Cedar Park, parts of Round Rock, and many others). which will be desirable to quality renters.