No 2 years tax returns, months of statements, $700 appraisals, $1200 lenders title insurance, large origination fees or waiting 45 days with fingers crossed.The other advantage is refinancing is much easier on you and the property and if you bought with SF below market value, the value will come into play after 6 months. 

So far I have had to pay the property taxes myself and also pay for cleaning the property when it was left in a bad state.Really desperate for help.

BUT in your lease there are probably mentions of keeping the property clean and damage free etc.

Thats a far better strategy for the long term as well as much easier to manage as you will be on site instead of 9 hours away.

First Time around - Owner's policySecond Time around - Lender's policy.That is two times around with the same title co.From my experience and when lender is involved, the title co won't clear to close until all liens are cleared and if there is any doubt of any open items out there they will put it on hold until that have cleaned all issues.  

If you are using PM, then they will take care of the cleaning and maintenance, but they charge upwards of 25%. 

April 1st I'll do a final cleaning/walkthrough. 

Were you ever able to find a way to make identifying properties on these lists easier?

Basically I do the labor and up keep, help him with cutting and splitting firewood from the land, and cleaning years of trash dumping on it by him; in exchange for ownership of the land in 10 years.

It looks clean and contemporary.At my store (I run a local tile shop) we have 24x48" tiles which would allow for even less grout lines.