Has been very hands off and the tenants just login each month and pay through an ACH transfer. 

It continues to be a head ache dealing with the bank but due diligence and staying relaxed knowing it's going to play out the way it should is my general rule.

Before visiting the bank and setting up automatic ACH/Wires, I wanted to explore the possibility of cheaper alternatives.

When it comes time to speak with the sellers, you may have to flex some negotiating muscles.

with a Ch 7 or 11  BK ...most  conventional lenders / programs require  4 yrs since  discharge before  a new loan is  possible  ...with a CH 13 - 2 years with a Ch 7 BK ...most FHA  lenders / programs require 2 yrs since discharge before a new loan is possible ...with a CH 13 - 1 years  ( plus re established  credit is needed along with all accounts paid as agreed  from discharge date ) there are some lenders  that might offer programs before these waiting periods ...but  these likely have rates  2%  higher than " regular " rates and down payment  requirements  likely higher

That’s a potential head ache for me, I’ll admit theirs some things that I’m working on fixing.

Living beside a tenant just gives them too much access to you and your family and would just be a source of head ache in the future with the wrong tenant Why don't you just keep your primary residence for your family and buy a duplex which you rent out??

That is a different muscle to flex than being a landlord. 

Many of the features in Buildium would be handled on the PMs side and you wouldn't need to worry about (tenant info, rent collection, work order tracking, ACH payments, website, online applications, property accounting, etc).

I know that this leaves less room for profit and head ache than a fix and flip, but as a veteran and a military spouse in a high military population, I want to provide those families with equity since at any moment they can get orders, and I hate seeing people I know pay an arm and a leg to sell their house because they didn't have an equity in their home.