I have been using the same lender for 2-3 years so we have a relationship where he approves deals electronically and will sometimes come out to check the house and numbers.  

I was able to negotiate a bit on the monthly for duplexes.Besides the cost savings, they seem very organized and professional (electronic portal, ability to esign documents, routine property inspections and identification of potential problem areas, etc.). 

Hey guys,we got married in 2012, and our tax accountant states we will have to send the taxes via MAIL,and can not do it electronically this year.Wanted to double check with tax guys out there if you could confirm this :)Thank you!

At the very Owning rental property with an outside property manager is a long term investment with a small quantity of units (about 18) that will allow you to demand regular income and expense reports and have an electronic method for rent deposits will minimize your need to travel.  

Rent collection would be done electronically (via Quickbooks and an ACH payment service) so that would not be an issue.

Electronically?

I haven't used it and cannot speak to it.Zibo.comThis is another free website where you can collect rent electronically and have an interest checking account.

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 (Checkbook IRA) 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.)

Most towns don't have electronic records that are easily accessible.

They turn on the utilities and get reimbursed for them at settlement, they put a lockbox on the house, they check to make sure it isnt vandalized....sometimes they pass the contracts on to the asset manager at the bank...but usually it is an electronic system and they never see any of the paper work.If you want to buy an REO you have to be prepared with all that comes along with it, such as situations like this.