@Scot Evans, the more I think about it, if you really are dead set on wholesaling and would like to connect with a mentor, you should think about working with a wholesale brokerage, New Western, Skystone Acquisitions, etc.

I plan to retire in about 8 years (will have an old fashion pension, no problem there).

That way you can get a tenant screened, placed and moved in a timely fashion without the headache of pushing marketing strategies yourself.  

Investment Info:

Single-family residence other investment.

Providing opportunities to local Real Estate Investors with one or more distressed properties at a time.

Western WA is still a great place to invest.

Being here on the Western slope presents some challenges for close networking events, but will keep my eyes peeled for an event in the greater Denver area, with hope that I would be able to travel and attend. 

I am currently doing everything the "old fashion way" and even using square to let tenant pay rent, but I think I need a better system, any feedback is appreciated. 

by rural I mean central valley  some of the mountain towns of the Seirras  north Western CA north of Ukiah  Yreka to Corning  etc etc.

You either need to towards Aurora and Joliet or you head into the near western suburbs along the highway/Metra. 

What's unfortunate for renters is that in typical bureaucratic fashion, these laws are already having the complete opposite effect as intended, 1) rental inventory is now decreasing because the largest operators are preferring to leave rent-controlled units in NYC vacant in hopes the laws change 2) app qualification criteria has gotten WAY stricter, so application approval rates have dropped, 3) days vacant has increased despite inventory being low because PM's and landlords would rather leave the unit vacant a few more weeks in hopes of finding a better-qualified renter, whereas in the past we would just collect a double deposit to approve a borderline applicant and be on our way.