Even a good manager needs to be overseen, met with in person, and I like to put eyes on my rentals fairly regularly, since it is my money on the line. 

Many regular agents would not know how to handle this without asking their broker..I assume you contacted the seller after the listing expired, correct?

Landlords should inspect their properties regularly and be aware of what's going on.

@Emily Anderson true on the flat 24% tax rate on rental income without the possibility to deduct costs from it.Keep only one thing in mind: rental income is being added to regular taxable income (salary and rental income).So I could deduct costs before ending up with taxable rental income, however for me, it is being added and calculated together with my salary income.That means I'm easily reaching higher tax brackets even after the deductions, while with a flat rate it always stays the same (even if you earn way more rental income).

If you hire out work or whatever, you are going to want to drive by it somewhat regularly.  

Somewhere in there, there has to be a mechanism that makes the regular commentators some kind of money.Really, how do you explain what it's like to live the different versions of this real estate life and be as focused as we are on things that are so different from what most people think about?

Come to find out this guy was a legit guy, but his company identity had been stolen and the "person" I was dealing with was using all of his personal and business info. 

I see these four rentals providing us a regular stream of income during retirement. 

The process of finding a tenant is identical to finding a traditional tenant: market, vet prospects and choose your tenant.

You can verify their identity and their authority to work by reviewing their passport, Form I-9, etc.