I searched for alternatives to CC but it mostly points to RentRedi, AppFolio, etc, other cloud based options that he doesn't need.

There is, however, a small minority of investors who make this work with alternative debt financing of course, and institutions do own about 2% of the SFR market.

His alternative was losing this sale, and going to court to establish clear title.We did not get a 1099S from the title company. 

Looking for alternatives.

Your going to have to spend $3500-$5500 per residence to put in a septic system for each unit or an expensive sewage treatment plant with annual upkeep...either way it's all wasted money if the city puts in public utilities in 5 years

Google to find alternate addresses for them.  

Further guidance from US Dept of Treasury released on Friday.https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm53...link to PDF at bottom.......In skimming it, here's some notes that are not 'CPA proofed' but what I'm gathering:Seems that a maximum committed time is communicated - in other words, 10 years is the minimum holding time to get the preferrable (0%) capital gains treatment during a sale event - but there's guidance now to indicate that 20 1/2 years is the total time that the treatment (at a minimum) will occur, so as I'm guessing to prevent a future change and not encourage a situation where everyone wants to sell their assets/businesses, etc right when the 10 years kicks inSeems there may only be a 6 month window to place funds / earmark funds as available for an opportunity fund. 

So, unless MA has a special treatment for trusts, I would not employ trusts for the rentals (not alone for sure, but together with an LLC). 

On paper it looks good, but in a real life scenario projections might be different:-the third R, refinance could be possible if good credit and debt to income ratio are satisfactory...since many aspiring investors are far from that, what are the alternatives?

Charge them - go with maybe granite or a cheaper alternative that consumes the deposit in-full and you have no out-of-pocket cost associated,To your success!