Under the right conditions, you can deduct more than the value of the rental income, so some people take that opportunity to throw in some repairs that would have to be done eventually. All of the costs of upkeep, many of which you would otherwise have to pay without the deductibility, become deductible while the house is rented, and you get to deduct depreciation. Remember that withholding and retirement contributions will probably need to be adjusted considering the change in your earnings while away, and then readjusted afterwards. If your income for the sabbatical year declines by 50 percent, you won't be able to contribute as much toward your retirement since the maximum permitted is proportional to the amount you earn. Depending on how this is allocated and paid, you may have to take steps to reduce the amount that you're putting away for retirement during the two calendar years that are affected by a typical 12-month academic leave, and then increase the contribution again after you return.
Good planning is critical to making the time count.
Finally, create personal objectives for the sabbatical, not just professional ones, but don't take on too much. There is a long period of adjustment in a new place, so you won't be able to concentrate on work 50 hours a week until you've gotten settled. But the point of a sabbatical is not to work longer hours than ever merely because you're freed from mundane distractions. It would be impossible to cover all the issues related to taxation of foreign travel, so get the rules at the I.R.S. Web site. Being in residence in a foreign country is the key consideration for qualifying for the Foreign Income Exclusion.