The truth is, you could read 100 books and still not know enough because certain things need to be learned through trial-and-error.

Taking the check, depositing it to my bank, then simply regularly paying the mortgage down seems like the most common sense thing to do, but doesn't seem to be the most financially responsible thing to do when tax season comes around.Would having an LLC and depositing the check into a business account make more sense?

@Sam Westfall - A common strategy to offset the cost of expensive college housing, is to purchase a place (home, townhome, condo) and then use it as well as rent it to friends. 

For example in Michigan property reasssess for taxes every year and common they uncap to purchase price whereas in North Carolina and it it every 10 years and purchase price does not affect assessment.

One common takeaway from every informational source is that networking is absolutely vital to succeed in this line of work. 

You will get to know/ask common issues/solutions in those forums and make more informed decisions.7.

Thus by the commonly understood sense of the word you cannot steal title to my property by forging my signature on a deed and I won't hold my breath waiting for someone to come up with a convincing rebuttal.I don't consider myself hung up on terminology but I do, not to be trite, strive to say what I mean and mean what I say.My opinion on the possibility and effect of home title theft, deed theft or whatever you choose to call is based on experience and not internet stories. 

@Frank Mancuso   it is common for investors to feel like they missed the boat.

Could you finance in you and your partners names as tenants in common and then quit claim deed to your LLC after closing?

I believe the "duty to mitigate damages" came from the common law and has later been opined and upheld in numerous Supreme Court cases.