God willing, I will land a job that requires me to relocate, but I have no plans to sell my current home in Houston. I am curious if any of you have a home in a different state you rent out and how you manage the property. I just don't really know how it works when you can't physically be there to deal with the property.

Either hire a property manager or keep a list of go-to handymen on file to call when needed

I think HollywoodBQ is leasing his house in Los Angeles (and maybe one in Colorado) while he is living in Australia.

I've got local property management companies managing my house in Denver and my house in Los Angeles.

The one in Denver is great, and we've had some good long term tenants. That property management company keeps everything online so it's pretty convenient. They deal with any maintenance dramas up to a certain amount. They call me when something major needs to be repaired like the Hot Water Heater, etc.

The company in LA is a little more old school. They scan in the bill and Email me a copy.

The Colorado company direct deposits the rent on a predictable date. The California company mails the rent check to my bank on a somewhat predictable - but not always - basis.

Biggest consideration is how much time and effort you're going to put into worrying about what your neighbors think of your tenants.

Some will be very unhappy that your house is now a rental. Others will take it personally and complain to the HOA and/or the City if your tenants don't meet their standards

In California, shocking but, I had some tenants that were - G A Y. Unfortunately, their Pilot didn't get picked up so they had to move out because they couldn't afford the rent. That 2007 Writer's Strike was a beeyotch.

In my hoity toity Colorado neighborhood, one of my neighbors literally wrote me a letter complaining about the fact that my tenant had tattoos. I can't make this up.

So, consider if you ever plan to live back in that house again. But, yeah, get a local property management company. They're worth every bit of 10-15% of the rent each month.

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In California, shocking but, I had some tenants that were - G A Y.

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Why is this sentence even in here? It doesn't even relate to anything else you've said.

The current occupants of my house are G A Y.

In the event I actually do manage to get the job I'm after, I will relocate to DC on a contract with a defined term. The plan is to keep the house so that regardless of what happens down the line, we will always have an affordable home to come back to in Houston.

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Why is this sentence even in here? It doesn't even relate to anything else you've said.

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Is it possible he knows Ryan and is just poking fun?

Canyon was the only one who got it.

I put that comment in there specifically for Ryan to get a laugh. I was hoping he would find it hilarious.

Exactly the reason I made that comment is that this is something that can keep you awake at night if you let it. Worrying about what your neighbors will think about you IF you ever plan to live in that house again.

IF your neighbors don't like your tenants because they like sausage or tattoos or listen to death metal or smoke the herb or whatever...

Your neighbors can make your life as a landlord difficult. Again - a mysterious increase in interest from the HOA all of a sudden. An increase in interest from the City, etc.

This is stuff that the property management company can't do much about.