One of your biggest challenges will be separating all the online fluff from reality.EXAMPLE: several S8 "gurus" have already been exposed as frauds, but unfortunately, they sucked in thousands of investors.You're an engineer, use your education & experience to start building up a logical approach to investing in rentals:)Start with this:Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.So, when investing in areas they don’t really know, investors should research the different property Class submarkets.

It’s true, there's a certain reassurance in traditional, in-person closings where you can see all parties and the attorney right there.Still, virtual closings are generally secure and are backed by robust technology for identity verification, which should ease some worries.

2) if you buy the identical house across the street and list it on Airbnb what’s the difference?

It's called fraud by inducement.

I'm also thinking of building 3 units just like this side by side plus an identical ADU so I can squeeze a 4th unit in if time permits.I have pocket doors between the kitchen and living room to the right.

I could rehab 2 identical houses , side by side , and house number 1 cost $25K  and House number 2 cost $95K .   

I'm sure that is true, because most mortgage companies aren't going to go searching for issues when there aren't problems - but in the truest sense of the word this is loan fraud and I'm just not up for it in my portfolio.I did hear from a friend of a friend type that she was able to close a subto with a small local bank somewhere in Georgia (property was also located there) because of a long standing relationship with the bank. 

This created lots of fraud and title company underwriters such as First American sent out letters 10 years ago (I had a copy which I have misplaced since) that buyers must have separate and good funds and cannot use other parties' funds. 

Here are a few ways technology is revolutionizing the real estate sector:Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR): VR and AR technologies allow potential buyers to tour properties remotely, providing a realistic sense of the space without the need for physical visits.Blockchain and Real Estate Transactions: Blockchain technology offers a secure, transparent way to conduct real estate transactions, reducing fraud and speeding up the process.Property Management Software: Modern property management solutions automate many aspects of property management, from tenant screening to rent collection, making it easier and more efficient to manage rental properties.Embracing Sustainability in Real EstateSustainability is no longer just a buzzword; it's a critical consideration for the real estate sector.

They are licensed and use it to prevent identity fraud.