Book recommendation #1: Hands Off Investor by @Brian Burke https://store.biggerpockets.com/products/the-hands-off-inves...Book recommendation #2: Lend to Live https://store.biggerpockets.com/products/lend-to-livePodcast Recommendation: PassivePockets podcast is focused on passive investing in syndications - https://passivepockets.com/podcast/Passive investing summit: PassivePockets Summit May 2-3rd in Columbus https://get.biggerpockets.com/passivepocketsevent/I make these recommendations specifically since you mentioned passive real estate investing, and syndications or hard money lending are really the two most passive ways to invest in real estate. 

Some agents are savvy enough with their offer to  require the seller to pay the early issue.. others its just another line item and buyer pays it..

It's a good idea to always line up and get started early so you have options!

Crossing the lines may not provide proper liability protection.Personally, I just kept my SF rentals in my name and got excellent insurance coverage, $500K per property plus a $2M umbrella.

This is primarily what makes their work product substantially lacking in correct English grammar, legal protections, timely professionalism and many other ways any Securities Attorney will point out to investors.

That's the reality I and my "troops" see from the "front-line" every day. 

@Ken M. rents are softening in the places that have had a lot of new units come on line.  

Once you sign up there’s a ton of other systems (Freedomsoft, Prycd, Mailers, LLC, phone lines etc)he recommends that you get in order to do his program successfully.

Bottom line, this is a short-term rental in a market where the average nightly stay is 2 nights.  90% of those are on Friday and Saturday night.  

In my experience that either means there is something prohibitive in the zoning, or there simply is not much demand for that sort of product if most people either go with an apartment in a large complex or rent a SFR.