I won't get into the details, but neither situation worked out well.If you insist on doing it anyway like we did, have the discussion NOW (not after they're already renting from you) what your plan is if/when rent is ever late (or not paid at all), the property is damaged (either as a result of your family member, their guest, their pet, etc), and all the other things that go along with managing tenants/rentals. 

As a CA LLC, you cannot conduct business in another state without first filing for a "foreign status" and obtaining permission from that State. 

I have placed some funds in contrarian type ETF's as insurance and have been thinking about some gold and silver.

I'm not from your area so I may be wrong but let a trusted realtor, familiar with the area, give you the input on that decision.That being said, if you can steal a closet or some space from one, ideally on a wall that backs the plumbing-filled wall of your existing bathroom, to make a half bath either as a guest powder room or master 'ensuite', you're laughing.

What is the status of other rental properties accepting pets in your area?

This is the first time I've ever understood all these podcost guests saying "solve their problem". 

This often becomes an issue when a tenant simply vacates without notice (and doesn't leave keys behind) and the landlord is left wondering when the timeline to notify regarding the status of the security deposit starts (even if this notification involves sending the information to the last known address...the rental property...to make certain "all bases are covered" legally).Since your tenants have provided you written notice consider the lease ended November 30.Gail

Guests are the tenant's responsibility, just as if they had done the damage themselves.

In some states, this status has lost a lot of meaning since earning 300K is pretty common.

A guest or visitor who is injured due to untreated snow or ice will likely sue both the property owner and the tenant.