Mortgages are a bit counter-intuitive because the buyer ("mortgagor") gives it to the lender ("mortgagee") while the lender gives funds to the buyer (indirectly) to give to the seller to make the purchase.In either case, you're signing legally binding contracts.

@BOB E.It certainly sounds counter intuitive that they would want to stay with so many "issues". 

So Intuit Payment Network is the best solution out there in my opinion.

My intuition is that the capital cost would be too high for most, but this is new to me. 

Furthermore, this will sound counter intuitive, but you DON'T want to pay too low (provided you don't have an issue with condo comps).

I base this opinion only on what I've heard in all the BP podcasts and various RE books; it also seems intuitive to me as I prefer to see my investment properties in person (at least from time to time and without heavy travel).

After awhile, you will get a good intuitive feel for what properties sell for, what a good deal looks like, and what is a rip off.As a last resort, if you are financing the property you will likely have a finance contingency and will need to have a professional appraisal on the property before the bank will fund the loan.

I use Quickbooks desktop and use the Intuit Payment Network.  

Always happy to share my knowledge & intuition :)

Definitely a little more expensive, but right on the edge of the city.The areas you mentioned above have the best schools in MA so may be tough.Disclaimer: I am on the North Shore now and that is where I have done most of my research, so I don't have the inside scoop on those areas, just my intuition from being in this area for a long time.