.- If I go that way and use passive real estate investing via online platforms, which I never tried, I'm wondering if the returns are really at least 7-8% on average, as I read about it.

You need to have the down payment of 3.5%, plus the closing costs 4%-5%, and three months in reserves for mortgage payments.If you have the average price for a duplex in your area, then a lender can work with you to develop an estimate.

You should have seen the belly laugh.. at the time that county was so poorly run that titles would take on average 90 days to record .. so they had to offer gap insurance which was the first time I learned of this little nugget..

Average growth of Income increase vs house price shows huge difference (sign of bubble)There are many U.S. cities with solid fundamentals (population growth, employment, strong local economy) where I can see potential (still below peaks from 2008s) and decent cash flow/cap rates. 

I have been reading the forums trying to get a list of qualifications to use, but a person with rentals in an upscale neighborhood in CA where rents run 2500/mo. on average is going to have a completely different qualifications than someone doing working class rentals.  

Get a  nice profile pic (like an agent does), but don't be too professional looking otherwise you look like an agent (although all agents are female)..Look lie the average wealthy Joe, flipper.State what you are and do.

If you talk with an average joe selling their house, you will probably get a bunch of resistance to seller financing.

@Mitchell LitamThat's concealed grid product that was glued to drywall for sound control.  

Did a similar last year so intend to use the same products to finish.  

Instead I would calculate what the average utility costs will be, build that price into the lease agreement and include a separate clause stating that if the tenant goes over the allowable cost built into the lease for utilities then they would be responsible for the additional cost.