paramount, the problem with a “starter home” in a lower cost area like Temecula is that it may attract marginal-buyer looky-loos (either first-timers or those who lost a home to FC or SS in recent years), who (a) are not sure if they can qualify to buy anything; and, (b) probably should really stay tenants for a few more years to give them more time to get their (financial) sh!t together.
Also, a <=$2000 month carrying cost is troubling to me for a "starter home" in Temecula. Not sure when you bought your rental home or how much you paid for it but I paid under $347K for my home 14 years ago and it is 700 sf bigger than your rental house and probably has a bigger lot, as well. If I had it advertised for rent, my carrying cost would likely be about $1650 mo (PITI + utils) and it would likely fetch $2200 - $2400 in monthly rent. There are, however, a few "starter homes" around me (of 1100 - 1400 sf with larger than avg lots).
With nearly $2000 month carrying costs, I can see why you can't leave it empty very long waiting for an offer but I can also see why you want/need to sell it.
What is the monthly rent you can get from it . . . $1650 - $1850? If so, $2000 a BIG carrying cost for a property like that. If you get another qualified tenant in there, make sure you get a 1-2 year lease with them to protect yourself from frequent vacancies.
