If the software is not simplifying your life or making you more accurate, you shouldn't use it.Software does have extremely helpful features like online payments, marketing syndication (click a button, and your property is advertised on multiple sites), electronic document review/signing, maintenance tracking, and owner reports.

I've noticed that properties with virtual tours tend to get more engagement online, and investors/agents who use them often say they help attract more serious buyers and renters. 

With buyers and renters relying more on online listings, I'm curious how valuable do you find virtual tours in showcasing properties?

I have experience with Quickbooks Online, and looking to learn to use Appfolio as I have heard that is a common software tool used for managing the books for REI.

Quote from @Diana Teng: Hi all,I think my question above is pretty direct.I'm interested to buy my first rental property, and after doing a brief search I see that there are quite a number of places out-of-state (I live in NY state)  that offer affordable homes that deem to be in hot market areas right now (according to many different articles online). 

He can spend the next few years-ish getting a finance degree through an online school while working part time, but he just got offered a full time position helping with sales for a local wholesale real estate company. 

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.

You can review your HOA's governing documents, also known as the CC&Rs, to understand the proper procedures.

I can provide him with an online log in so he can review the books from his office.

And an additional appraisal review ( like an AVM or BPO)