One year after relocating to Mexico, Erin Spradlin and James Carlson share three options for handling property when leaving the US—and why their choice saved their marriage.

🏠 Three Options When Leaving

Option 1: Sell (Least Favorite) Most time-consuming and permanent. Requires prep, photos, staging. Markets moving slowly, especially Southeast US/Arizona. Best if certain about leaving permanently.

Option 2: Rent Unfurnished (Middle Ground) Three-week timeline. Remove all furniture (storage costs extra). If rent doesn't cover mortgage by $100-200/month, that's your "experimentation cost." Think reverse 401k: tenant pays 85%, you pay 15%.

Option 3: Furnished Midterm Rental (What They Did) Fastest exit. Leave furniture, lock personal items in basement, list. Turnover every 4-5 months. Carry utilities between tenants. Provides landing spot if you return—crucial for hesitant partners. This option saved their marriage.

📱 Where to List (Priority Order)

1. Airbnb - Largest volume, 6-8 month stays common. Most ban under 30 days, not 30+ furnished. Check HOA declarations. "Risk it with HOA over fascism."

2. Zillow - Best tenant quality. Act like long-term renters. Deposits, background checks, proper leases available.

3. Furnished Finder - Last resort. Lots of lowballing, less professional.

🔍 Search terms: leaving US real estate options, furnished midterm rental, expat property management, Airbnb 30 day minimum

📧 Contact:
erin@erinspradlin.com for landlord consulting
james@jamescarlsonre.com for Colorado real estate