Is it difficult being a landlord over 1000 miles away?
Do you hire an agency to handle rent and repairs?
No and no.
But I imagine my situation is fairly unique.
a) I rent to an old friend
b) the house is in my hometown
c) I am close friends with 4 other families on that block
d) I am in town at least once a month for work anyway
e) one of my best friends owns a chain of bars (which my tenant works at), so I get handiwork done very cheaply
f) I put a shit ton of money in the house right before the divorce, so most things are new (roof, furnace, etc), so there are very few repairs to speak of
Did I mention my tenant is a good friend of mine? Cause that makes it very easy on me. For now. Hope it stays that way. Ya never know, my last best friend knocked up my wife, so...