When you study this area in economic texts and in academic papers, there is quite a lot of govt intervention on behalf of all sides (tax code isn't 12,000 pages for no reason and it usually isn't helping the renters)Let The free market act as it normally does, there are more multifamily units coming online this year and next year than ever before in US history, despite rising insurance and property taxes and construction and labor costs, as the potential for profit is too juicy to ignore, but The developers and investors also bear the risk of loss.

I'll most likely have to learn the market online if I were to do this virtually.

Educate YourselfLearn the Basics: Understand real estate terminology, market cycles, financing options, and investment strategies.Read Books and Take Courses: Educate yourself through books, online courses, seminars, and workshops.

I specifically need really user friendly accounting features (including ability to sync with quickbooks and print checks directly from the site/software), customizable online application, and online rent-pay as an option (hopefully with free or very cheap ACH). 

Begin by setting up online tools for rent collection, maintenance requests, and communication with tenants.

I see some banks posting it online for bidding on Xome.com and some and posting on MLS as a foreclosure purchase.

The "public marketing" of these will probably be triggered the minute someone mentions an off-market property for assignment, whether that's online, email, phone call, etc.

There's a large presence of blue collar workers with a strong rental demand.

I’m not gonna go to happy hour I’m gonna save that money and attend a free online class to learn accounting.

Go online let them know!