then you're on the right track in understanding how hard it is.The second thing is that you can skip all the headaches of becoming a landlord and still get the cash flow, appreciation, and tax benefits by investing in passive real estate syndications.

Plus real estate is tax advantaged!

Part of that is the incentives our state offers to new business, part of that is a business friendly general assembly a regulatory environment, and part of that is our low corporate income tax rate.

I have no idea, but this doesn't sound right.This is in the tax code not a loophole.

Tenants can use credit cards or their phone to pay.

I'm going with 2 sentences...Tax benefits are secondary to the value of the investment...The large percentage of wealth held in retirement accounts is particularly notable given the tax advantages these vehicles offer.

Check for  satisfactory credit, Criminal, and Income and have them provide prior landlord references and call them.

you could look for opportunities with reverse mortgages in default (backwards marketing) and tax defaulted property (the last group can be difficult to sift and sort due to large quantities).In the end, you’ll do much better focusing on solving problems that others cannot or are not willing to solve (hoarding, squatters, liquidity, defective title, skips, etc.).BTW, I started with working foreclosures (1978) and then deceased owner and title-impaired property about (35) years ago and have closed several thousand deals to date.  

- I use an online credit/eviction/criminal background check service, should I expect them to be able to fill out and pay via the online service?

Or do I owe taxes on 240k minus - 68k = 172k ?