Renter's Insurance is a cheap date for the tenant; it protects their security deposit and assets. 

There are seconds in the way of HELOANs and HELOCs for investment properties, but they aren't cheap.

Additionally, the price point is still cheap enough to find the 1% rule and positive cash flow and there's amazing appreciation potential.

Cheap houses in lower class neighborhoods will get you cash flow with a lot of headache.

Do you want cheap, regardless of speed and communication? 

. :)  I would not consider Cleveland a growth market, but we've certainly got some really cheap properties. 

Send a Lease Violation Notice immediately - by mail with proof of delivery required (cheap date through post office) and or affix the notice in a envelope with his name on it on the door of the unit. 

TLDR: Quicken (quickbook’s little brother) is super easy, cheap, and still overkill for someone with less than 20 properties.

Unit size is 1000 SF with an assumed $105 SF cost to build, (Cheap considering there will be no GC costs). 

I accept the need for a competent PM and the reality that competence typically ain't cheap.