If not, you will need to install a USPS approved key box, or an electronic switch that is guarded by a USPS approved lock.2.

This may be an option for some folks who are really dead set on electronic payments.  

They still are waiting for some action from the feds.At one point, the IRS was accepting their payments (payroll taxes) in cash, but was imposing a penalty for not paying electronically.  

Most records should be electronic like your QB files or Quicken files, and scanned pdfs. 

The logistics may be that something needs to happen from me quicker than the electronic form can allow or may require me to appear with the attorney.

It allows you to keep track of all expenses as well as send invoices each monthly and they can pay via check, electronic check, or even a credit card.

I'm a decent handyman with lots of tools and fairly skilled with electronic dodads.

I wanted to select not only a good tenant, but one that also banked/paid bills electronically.  

The original electrical would have been installed to run a few incandescent bulbs, a radio or two and perhaps an early appliance and was not designed to handle today's electronic demands.Another thing to keep in-mind, depending on when the property was converted to apartments, is that the conversion may not - quite likely will not - meet current fire codes, which will both impact your insurance rates and your renovation costs when you do undertake a substantial rehab.That gorgeous exterior, with it's clapboard/shakes (or era brickwork) and elaborate trim will be high maintenance - that does not mean it's not "worth it", just that you need to budget accordingly.Personally, I enjoy performing deep energy retrofits on these old buildings (which can be very solidly built), but it can be an involved and costly experience, hence we are always looking for the unloved and run-down which can be purchased cheaply.If that house has been 200+ days on market - and no other landlord or investor has touched it - tells me there is a problem with the value proposition of the deal.  

Following are the similarities and differences between the solo 401k and the self-directed IRA.The Self-Directed IRA and Solo 401k Similarities Both were created by congress for individuals to save for retirement;Both may be invested in alternative investments such as real estate, precious metals tax liens, promissory notes, private company shares, and stocks and mutual funds, to name a few;Both allow for Roth contributions;Both are subject to prohibited transaction rules;Both are subject to federal taxes at time of distribution;Both allow for checkbook control for placing alternative investments;Both may be invested in annuities;Both are protected from creditors;Both allow for nondeductible contributions; andBoth are prohibited from investing in assets listed under I.R.C. 408(m).The Self-Directed IRA and Solo 401k DifferencesIn order to open a solo 401k, self-employment, whether on a part-time or full-time basis, is required;To open a self-directed IRA, self-employment income is not required;In order to gain IRA checkbook control over the self-directed IRA funds, a limited liability company (IRAL LLC) must be utilized;The solo 401k allows for checkbook control from the onset;The solo 401k allows for personal loan known as a solo 401k loan;It is prohibited to borrow from your IRA;The Solo 401k may be invested in life insurance;The self-directed IRA may not be invested in life insurance;The solo 401k allow for high contribution amounts (for 2016; the solo 401k contribution limit is $53,000, whereas the self-directed IRA contribution limit is $5,500);The solo 401k business owner can serve as trustee of the solo 401k;The self-directed IRA participant/owner may not serve as trustee or custodian of her IRA; instead, a trust company or bank institution is required;When distributions commence from the solo 401k a mandatory 20% of federal taxes must be withheld from each distribution and submitted electronically to the IRS by the 15th of the month following the date of each distribution;Rollovers and/or transfers from IRAs or qualified plans (e.g., former employer 401k) to a solo 401k are not reported on Form 5498, but rather on Form 5500-EZ, but only if the air market value of the solo 401k exceeds $250K as of the end of the plan year (generally 12/31);When funds are rolled over or transferred from an IRA or 401k to a self-directed IRA, the amount deposited into the self-directed IRA is reported on Form 5498 by the receiving self-directed IRA custodian by May of the year following the rollover/transfer.Rollovers (provided the 60 day rollover window is satisfied) from an IRA to a Solo 401k or self-directed IRA are reported on lines 15a and 15b of Form 1040;Pre-tax IRA contributions on reported on line 32 of Form 1040;Pre-tax solo 401k contributions are reported on line 28 of Form 1040;Roth solo 401k funds are subject to RMDs;A Roth 401k may be transferred to a Roth IRA (Note that from a planning perspective, it may be advantageous to transfer Roth Solo 401k funds to a Roth IRA before turning age 70 ½ in order to escape the Roth RMD requirement applicable to Roth 401k contributions including Roth Solo 401k contributions and earnings.)