A few of them prepaid their rents for the next 3 months, and one asked if she could mail me her rent checks from her home state.The issue will be with my residents who work in the service industry. 

Closing costs can include points used to buy down the rate as well as pre-paids which can vary wildly depending on time of month/year, so that may speak to the difference there.

I have heard many people talk about pre paid legal.

Basically it’s a pre paid debit card where you tell the bank how much you want to use.

You pre-paid 4 years, but the interest will continue to accumulated until you make the next payment, I  don't see the benefit.

He paid both on July 26th so this is prepaid rent and should be kept in your escrow account until each month comes due. 

Your other closing costs, to include prepaids, will run you $5K or so.

.- Tenant must pay on the first of every month (remember that rent is prepaid meaning that if your tenant is starting on 12/1/23 then the tenant must pay on 12/1 the month of December, then on 1/1/24 they'll pay the whole month of January and so forth).

Are prepaids in there as well. 

The upfront costs you may have are: title (insurance/CPL/stamps/surveys/any add ons, settlement/escrow, appraisal, credit, wire, notary, tax, transfer tax, insurance, prepaid interest, impounds, HOA fees, and points if the product requires.