Given timing/convienience I'm thinking an electronic system would be best.  

Kids will be attached to their personal electronics anyway.A Foosball or Pool Table makes more sense for a loft.I like the board game idea.

But I feel like I read that electronic communication was not useable for legal notice i.e. 30-60 day, 3 day pay or quit ECT. 

I haven't seen anything that suggests it is illegal/discriminatory but i have had prospective tenants claim they cannot make electronic payments (some credit unions have issues with electronic payments) and these prospects are usually in the lower income brackets.  

Be sure and give him your forwarding address.Yes, texts are legal in court, as electronic forms of communication are considered to be "in writing."

I have a rental application that i can print and hand to the applicant  OR have them fill out the electronic form and print the completed applicationFrom this form i would like to run the credit and background checksWhat sites are out there that will allow me as the landlord to run the checks instead of requiring the tenant to have an computer, email address, and credit card to do it own their own.I have evaluated cozy and TransUnion Smartmove but both (i believe) require an email be sent to the applicant for them to fill in all information to run the checks.

I live in an apartment now with super nice furniture (seriously, my couches are electric and my bed is too), a 50 and 60" tv, electronics, etc.

You could Set up a bank account as John Doe Property Management and on the lease say to write checks to the same. ..they will probably pay electronically anyway.

Now that it's all electronic, I quit bidding.

He’s been a good tenant— nice guy and pays electronically on time every month.