Make sure it allows tenants to pay rent online, that saves time, and that it is web based so your data isn't lost of the computer crashes.

Instead, try creating a personal web page and put together a new business card (hirebythehour.com can be a cheap effective way to get a great design).  

I like to send monthly statements via email to tenants, which also has our web portal to make online payments.  

Additionally, if you feel tempted to call upon one of the many {web based} companies that have sprung-up in recent years purporting to {help you} repair your credit - give this a read first, then say no thank-you, roll-up your sleeves and do it yourself.Your first step is to control your spending to be subservient to your income ... as Mindy pointed out, live within your means and be frugal to pay down debt and save.   

As for comps, there are some web-resources that can give you a basic value range for a property (see: http://www.biggerpockets.com/house-value-comps.html ).

Marcus and Millichap, CBRE, Colliers, ARA Newmark and the likes usually have free research on their web site and many will break it down by property class. 

I own a lawn care business and a small web design business where I put the bulk of my "manual labor" while I have an absolute Godsend working for me who handles all our carpentry, repairs, etc.

If you are looking for the least expensive and something where you don't need to physically go into a bank, you may want to try Capital One as they do have physical locations (in some states), but they are primarily online web based.

Most if not nearly all brokers of any size now have web sites and if you are willing to register (sometime only an email address required), it will give you access to all their marketing material (OM's, Proformas's, etc.).

Yes, we went to a Real Estate Seminar for 3 full days this last weekend and are also reading a lot more and web surfing for advice and and podcasts and youtube.