Very early planning to full time for a yr or less - Help!

As a couple of the others have said, you usually most regret the things you didn't do.
On renting your townhouse, if you are near the coast or a military base, check on leasing to the services, they are picky about paint and cleanliness and you do then have a manner of recourse. If near the coast, the coast guard usually leases townhouse or duplex units when possible.