S8 is a tool, nothing more and all an owner is doing is trading one set of challenges for another. 

Would love for you to come out and network with other local investors, meet some of the trades and see if you can make some connections to help you get started. 

What might help you for the next attempt is to read (BP's book written by yours truly--The Hands Off Investor), and network (join a community where investors discuss deals, trade advice and observations--coming soon will be Passive Pockets, an offshoot of BiggerPockets which recently acquired the popular passive investing group Left Field Investors).

If you are okay with the trade-off of paying 20-30% in management fees with less tax savings for a more passive investment, then management companies may be a good option for you.

To break this down...To get the benefit of REPS, it is a two part test.1) more than 50% of hours AND over 750 hours in real property trades or businesses. spouses cannot combine time to meet these thresholds, one spouse must hit this on their own.

So before you get ready to attempt to rip your Landlord a new one, first go take it up with the local taxing authority, then go have it out with the insurance industry, then gripe to the neighborhood HOA (if applicable), then maybe settle your disputes with Home Depot/Lowes and any and all trade contractors.

Long term success means having a team of CPAs, Attorneys, Title Companies, GCs, trades, roofers, cleaners, lenders, and so many others on your team as an investor.Good luck. 

Keep your Trade job.

I do but I dont think I can share his name on the open forum .. well as long as your all cash should be no issue.. its when you need a loan or selling to third party that wont buy without title insurance.. keep in mind there is a lot of land that is traded via quit claims all over America .. 

when lehigh was put in they punched in roads to 250,000 lots.. one can google earth it today and see blocks of lots with like 2 or 5 homes per 50 lots.. lots trade there when its good times for 20 to 25k and bad times 2 to 10k  like a ping pong ball.. the GFC took down many land plays even out west..