What I found beneficiary in your situation is to work with a realtor to manager some aspects of the relationship with your tenants, without being a property manager.

I signed up 2 days ago, and now that I am using it, I am finding certain aspects of the software very frustrating. 

So this doesn't seem right to me...if I see "new construction" as a buyer, I:a) assume the home has never been occupied, andb) that licensed contractors were used to build all aspects to state code, to offset the lack of required inspections.I know homeowners can do their own work, but shouldn't that imply occupancy and be listed as previously owned home vs. new construction?

These other aspects of the strategy seem great, really reduces the chances the neighborhood is just going to tank in value or something I would think, though I suspect fitting a curve as opposed to just using the mean may be a bit more effective and less risky.

It's pretty crucial to have the temperatures dialed. 

Ultimately, selecting a competent and reputable property management company is crucial to safeguarding the profitability of real estate investments.

Chris  TC =  A person who may or may not be licensed ( this is Oregon and WA laws) who assist the agents in many aspects of the transaction. they are normally Dependent independent contractors .

Everyone should have a coach or a mentor for every aspect in life.

This is determined by the location, the tenant segment you target and the companies they work for.In the rest of this post, I will explain how to select the investment location, tenant segment, and property, as well as the information needed and the sources.Selecting an Investment Location or CityThe investment location is your most crucial investment decision, not the property itself.

I was digging more for the tax strategies aspect but you make a good call out.