also curious if its best practices when assuming a loan to forgo the escrow and just pay the taxes and ins out of pocket when needed....but perhaps that triggers something else? 

The Vivid Vision exercise really does work - but it takes some VERY INTENTIONAL time. 

A lot of education and a little bit of practice is something that one can accomplish with elbow grease. 

It's hard to harvest equity on these plays, unless you commit, long-term, towards very light leverage, as the only practical ways to benefit from the equity in your portfolio, if you plan to never sell it, only exchange it, for a lifetime, are to spend the cash flow, or cash out refi.

And all of this happens during the contract period reducing purchasing risk.Great strategy especially when practiced just on the outskirts of a major metro area in a country setting(a weekend getaway property that can be marketed to city folk).  

How legit is their practice if you have an idea about it?

Quote from @Frank Barletta: It is more cost-effective and practical to install a large-size TV and get the Nintendo, Super Nintendo, and Sega Mini consoles.It comes with games preloaded, legal, and each to swap in case something breaks. 

They might be fine managing new construction, but I have seem MANY investors almost tank from their fee schedule on managing older homes...i would compare it to almost predatory practice.

- Any lessons learned or best practices you’d recommend for someone leaning toward this approach?

Here you go: https://dicksonlawgroup.com/practice-areas/landlord-tenant-d...The biggest difference between eviction attorneys is pricing.