He get's principal and simple interest payments over a number of years.I'll manage the deal and the property.Looking to create a proforma for this that would fit a typical rental analysis but insert the detail of having private money cover the DP.

For short-term and mid-term strategies working there, the simple answer is that it depends. 

I am an experienced investor and unexpectely find myself managing a duplex myself and wondering if there is a small landlord (aka inexpensive) simple solution for marketing, background checks and lease creation that markets on zillow? 

One simple example, if you take two rooms and rent another 4 rooms, you will have two cars and each of the other tenants will have at least 4 other cars making you house to accomodate 6 cars.

The city also confirms if the utilities have capacity which they do.Its a simple case of NIMBYs having a huge voice in this jurisdiction. you are doing everything right. just file a couple lawsuits get a good lawyer and keep going. 

Shelf LLCs are pre-established entities like you mentioned in your post.However, if you prefer to avoid setting up shelf LLCs, using land trusts can be a simple and effective alternative.

Method of choice was looking for potential properties online using redfin then when I had run simple numbers I would drive by each property and its neighborhood and if it was worth pursuing, I would schedule to see the property through the selling agent.

In fact, I don't know of any system that allows smartphone access without Wifi. and, I did some simple math, one refrigerator walking out the door in the middle of the night and it's $1,500 or squatters shooting drugs and it's major headache time.

Real estate helped me reach my simple goal: create cash flow for today and secure a comfortable retirement for later.

We need to find a good app/website for them to send rent as well, preferably one that has many things built into it, making it more simple to manage things in one place.