It separates your personal assets from your business, providing a safeguard if any legal issues arise related to tenants or the property.

I currently have a lawn care business that I run myself.   

I'm a retired engineer and have been successfully using income from these houses to support my retirement without dipping into retirement savings.I'm transitioning my business from rentals to a franchise and would consider selling one of my houses (5 br/4 ba - the other houses my son while he's still attending).

If you are going to self manage you will need to build business systems and get a list of reliable vendors.  

What other company offers business income loss and up to 15k for dealing with squatters?

My motto, "Honesty, Integrity, and Accountability," has always been my guiding principle—not just in business, but in my personal life as well.

I was conducting an extremely seasonal business and after 8 years of operation the business was insolvent. 

It is not very difficult or complicated to evaluate commercial real estate, there are plenty of good books available that can teach you how, textbooks, online courses, community college classes, even excellent youtube videos etc, and it is actually quite enjoyable in the process to learn.

To become a true business owner or investor, you need to leverage your time through others.

Here is what the IRS says on the subject: Election for Husband and Wife Unincorporated Businesses A business owned and operated by the spouses through a limited liability company does not qualify for the election Only businesses that are owned and operated by spouses as co-owners (and not in the name of a state law entity) qualify for the election.