If that is the path moving forward we will be left without a home as of 9/21/24 which will create incredible financial, mental, and physical stress on our part.

It would be smart to do a full lease audit, estoppels issued, and tenant interviews.And if you are buying cash, there is nothing mandatory, since it is your money at risk. but again, physical condition inspections, understanding of tenants (they are a great source of information about issues with the property that the landlord may not know or may not disclose), surveys to understand accurate property lines, etc.

Short-term maybe short it, for the reasons you mentioned OP but this investment is a physical long-term one so you analyze it appropriately. 

We have a physical location downtown Greensboro and would love to connect with you locally! 

Educate yourself on the differences between checkbook control and custodial control.   

Since you're a citizen but you live and work abroad you'd still qualify mostly for second homes occupancy or investor non owner occupancy (primary is hard to claim if your job requires you to be physically next to the office as an example so an underwriter isnt going to readily believe you unless you can get HR to write you a letter to state you're remotely capable of earning this income/job duties anywhere).Hopefully that helps let me know if you have further questions into mortgage planning.

I actually have a fee in my lease if a tenant wants me to physically pick up a payment.

Custody is next.

Even new machines can experience issues, and when those issues mean that water is leaking all over your laundromat, you’re going to want to respond to that quickly.It may not be that your laundromat requires that many hours in a week of actual work, but the times your laundromat will demand your attention can often happen unexpectedly.In a typical week, we would work 7-10 hours on our laundromat, either being there physically or working remotely.

I have never dealt with an investor who didn't physically go to the property & most look up zoning regulations before even giving me an offer!