New Jersey is the number one state for people leaving right now , which is might make a great market pending on the supply and demands chain...

Consider checking out your local REIA meetings and teaming up with a mentor to help you get some skin in the game. 

My husband has some long service leave and needs a career break and before our children start school I figured one big learning curve with a potential for a payoff rather than a traditional holiday  would be a rather large adventure for us.

Personally, I would want to have enough skin in the game (equity) so if I needed to unload it, I wouldn't suffer a loss; but that's just me.

Agents from both sides spoke on the phone and buyers agents proposed extending escrow time and allowing change of lender if renter did not leave in time.  

But you believe paying the (worthless) PMI will leave me with cash to do things that will get returns that will pay for the PMI and more.

I can't leave my phone number here, per the rules, so Google me. 

On the race subject, personally, I believe if an individual is skeptical of you because of the color of your skin than there is nothing you can do to build credibility with this person. 

We buy expensive houses as our home with as little down and than rent them out when we leave.

In all my years as a PM, I have only once ever had someone leave a place completely clean and move-in ready.