I work with a lot of out of state investors and provide more services than just selling properties.  

It took longer that anticipated, but on the positive side I was able to cash flow the repairs and build up my reserves.

What tracking services you any of you use?  

So we are in the process of getting the lien release voided, and figured I would also reach out the prior servicer, which is still in business, to see the payment history, as my research showed they modified the loan in October, 2010, and they both signed it, so she was back on the hook, and they stopped paying in June of 2012, 19 payments later, so I figured unless she won the lottery, she did not pay it off. 

We service Manatee & Sarasota counties. 

In the short term, we are currently in the process of defining our goals, educating ourselves, developing our team, building reserves and learning how to analyze deals.  

I do tell folks they can check with local utility companies that service the properties to find out what previous bills have run.   

You can also screen applicants (debt-to-income ratios, income verification, background checks, etc.) through tenant-screening services such as TenantVerification.com, ScreentheTenant.com, e-renter.com. 

David Stone , a traditional bank will look at your debt to income, credit score, and they will not consider the rent from the duplexes as income usually until you've been a landlord for two years, they will also want 20% down, plus closing costs, plus slightly higher investor interest rate, plus probably want you to prove you have 6 months of cash reserves or equivalent marketable securities.

As far as the FSBO I subscribe to a service called beenverified . com to find current address, emails and phone numbers of people