What you will need off the back is an website which if you don't have that then you will have a hard time automating the process.Next you will need an auto responder, seo, video marketing, online presence, blogging and a management tool.

I served from 1999 to 2003 as a jet mechanic (aviation machinist mate). 

A good business person in, say the auto parts business, may give you some general business knowledge, but you'll be totally green starting out in RE.

I knew that some of the mechanicals would need to be updated.

My lease also automatically renews so as long as neither of us (me or tenant) says anything it's all on auto pilot. 

There is no allowable mechanism whereby you draw from the account and repay on a monthly schedule.  

If your not comfortable spraying them yourself, take them to a small Mom and Pop auto body shop and see if they will do them for you.

I told him we would be doing quarterly inspections on all the mechanicals in the house.

Crowdfunding is an exciting new financing mechanism but its still in the early stages of development and, I believe, works best when both the person/company buying the real estate has significant experience and the investors buying in have enough sophistication to understand the terms of what they're getting into.

I have a friend that owns an auto shop/car lot in Westport.