Plus, they handle online rent collection (a necessity if you don't have a property manager!)

Apologize if these questions are vague, I am quite new to this.Happy to provide some of the data I have found thus far (though data online is scarce given the size of the town).Thanks!

Microsoft Excel, and most budget or free online bookkeeping isn't going to cut it in this situation.For the rental properties you own directly, I often tell clients and prospects that a P&L in Microsoft Excel is just fine and a balance sheet is not necessary for tax purposes. 

Validate planning zoning requirements and access to utilities.  

Damage after deposit, legal charge, skip out, unpaid utilities lists go forever.... and of course eviction process takes at least 60~90 days here while lawyers are asking $600 to just start with the case. 

Andy Sirkin (fantastic legal team from SF) has a library of free online articles and a set of agreements to purchase, to help you on your way to become a Subject Mater Expert. https://andysirkin.com/article...Elizabeth and Christina (The Rental Girls) have done a great job pioneering the shared ownership (TIC's) model in Southern CA. 

One of the methods I plan to utilize is to list the space on craigslist.

Thank for your help Connect with a great property manager or use one of the free online tools to estimate rents.

ABC kept the first two and half months of rent from the rental guarantee for tenant placement fees and utilities (water, electric).

As mentioned elsewhere, breakeven on cash flow is not the same as break even for taxes.Let's make some assumptions:Rental income = $1000Mortgage payment = $400 - but $300 is interest and $100 is principalOther expenses (repairs, advertising, utilities, etc) = $600Depreciation = $250The above scenario creates a break even from a cash flow perspective, however the tax scenario looks like this:Rental income minus the mortgage interest (principal is not deductible) minus the other expenses minus depreciation looks like this:1000-300-600-250 = $150 LossIf your income is over $150,000, then you cannot deduct that loss, but you can roll it over to future years.