I rented mine in AZ for about fours years. It was a good deal taxwise. I went out once a year (tax deductable) to check on it. Get someone to manage it for you if you have a friend there that would do it. All they have to do is drive by once in a while and be an intermediary. Pay them 5% of the rent (deductable). If something needs doing they make the calls, etc. Get references for renters and give someone you feel would take care of the place well a break on the rent. You can get lease forms etc. online. Oh, I also have managed two rentals for friends.
DON'T use a rental agency!!!
Me and my ex rented our house in Va while we went to Japan....what a disaster....we hired a rental agency to do all the stuff for us(collect deposit and rent, fix all repairs, etc)....the first person they rented it to didn't have the full deposit, then she didn't have her rent....she moved out after a month and a half....the agency didn't even know she was gone....they did nothing but try to rent it again
Which they did....this woman had her full deposit and first months rent....then never paid again....the agency took the "the checks in the mail" excuse for 2 months worth of rent
Of course they got their "fees" for renting it, but they didn't do anything when the renters bailed on the lease...All I got on the phone(long distance from Japan) when I talked to the rental manager was "if you want to go after them for the remainder of the lease, you have to do it yourself"....After 6 months and 2 renters, we got $123....minus 6 months of mortgage payments