I have considered it for the reasons listed above...... its a near guaranteed payment and many don't want to do anything to lose their "meal ticket", so they tow the line...My only concern has been the hassle to get it set up....what's involved to get your unit section 8 approved, the paperwork etc.

Do you mean, look for an agency that is more of a mom-and-pop place, not a national chain?  

.-- Did you notice the price of pizza from the major chains up to 2006?

I am a Supply Chain manager in my day job.  

Freddie Mac allows you up to 6 mortgages with an 80% refinance based on appraisal(new rule just changed this week), so in markets like Memphis where the acquisition cost is low she can actually use a turnkey provider as Charles Moore was suggesting, acquire a home below market value(using a private lender) which is renovated and rented, and then refinance it which would create a very low out of pocket cost situation for her.Depending on how serious she is about doing it, or how committed she is to reducing her tax liability, she could(given her age, I am assuming she is retired) structure her real estate business where she could qualify as a 'real estate professional', and this would allow her to depreciate things like her 'home office', which is a specific amount of square footage on her primary, as well as take the mortgage interest write offs on loans plus depreciation, and other goodies like meals(when applicable), maintenance, and so on. 

I have always learned that the best friendships are built over a great meal.

Most county recorders offices are on line these days, and one can see the chain of title (if not the actual documents) on line.

PM companies have thier own maintenance people, a license would be a plus.Hotel/motel chains have RE depts, chain stores, C-stores, all kinds of franchized and corporate owned expansions look for new sites, evaluate markets and they all don't have degrees.Speaking of degrees, consider getting back to school too, after you get a job!

Both loans would be in chain of title and show up as liens against the property.

Jay, can I borrow you're chain saw to whittle out one of those logs for ole Boyd there?