That's definitely not what the the typical Marine is concerned about.

I am 50 and single, and my concerns come from being a child of a struggling trailer park owner in the 1960/70's and a former wife of a struggling carpenter/general contractor.

When starting out, people oftentimes use family and friends as private lenders thereby preventing the concern for getting scammed.

They're more concerned about keeping their money than growing it, and willing to sacrifice returns for more safety.

I am fine with it but my own concern is obviously if he burns down the place with the gas stove.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

My main concern with your whole post was when you wrote: "I have no means of making any type of short gain out of these", which means to me: you're buying random properties, at market value.

I know I'd need permits to add an additional driveway over the drainage ditch between the road and I've already contacted contractors and the county for water and septic information so my main concern is the separation of the land I want to keep using from the tenants. 

One of my main concerns is that I have a full time job which takes up all my available time and brain most days. 

I have a similar story which caused me to use Google Voice during the rental listing process, and also set up social media blocks early on.My Dad is a physician and also a landlord of several nicer condos in a large metro area.