On the Grandparents' contributions - because the Student Aid lookback is now 2 years (prior prior), grandparents can help contribute during last 2 years without derailing student aid for the student.There is a technique I've seen advocated here at BP where parents with rental properties employ their minor children to work on the properties, pay them, and put the money in a Roth IRA.

So, it’s very helpful to look at all the deposits and if they are not obviously payroll please try to document what the source of the deposit was.2.Your most recent 1 Full month of paycheck stubs including YTD totals3.Your 2 most recent years W2’s4.Your 2 most recent years Federal Tax returns, including all schedules, if self-employed please include all corporate returns and a YTD P&L.5.Current Statements for any Certificates of Deposit, Stock, Bonds, Cash Value Life Insurance and/or Retirement Acct (IRA’s, 401K’s,401B’s etc) if applicable (all pages).6.Legible copies of your Unexpired Driver’s License, these do not copy or scan well so feel free to text or email me a clear & legible copy to this email or text (phone blocked).7.Employer’s HR Contact Name and Number if known (if your employer uses a verification service called “The Work Number” we will need your salary key).8.FYI PURCHASE- A copy of the purchase agreement with a copy of earnest money check.

Having a regular job is also extremely common, but that's not a reason for your employer not to give you a W2.

Maybe not immediately to save some money but my 15 years of self employment says its a good idea. 

Here is an excerpt from Fannie Mae's guidelines on POAs:Allowable Attorneys-in-Fact or Agents Under a Power of AttorneyExcept as otherwise required by applicable law, or unless they are the borrower’s relative, none of the following persons connected to the transaction shall sign the security instrument or note as the attorney-in-fact or agent under a power of attorney: the lender;any affiliate of the lender;any employee of the lender or any other affiliate of the lender;the loan originator;the employer of the loan originator;any employee of the employer of the loan originator;the title insurance company providing the title insurance policy or any affiliate of such title insurance company (including, but not limited to, the title agency closing the loan), or any employee of either such title insurance company or any such affiliate; orany real estate agent with a financial interest in the transaction or any person affiliated with such real estate agent.

Like if you're self employed and don't have every line of your tax returns memorized, then yup paperwork is needed.

You could make use of weekends or if your employer will let you you could ask to work 4 days a week.

The employer (medical company) actually pays for housing and the lease for my property would be with the medical company, not the tenant themselves.Given that, I'm trying to figure out which background/financial checks are relevant. 

You'll still need to do the proper research and employ other strategies such as asset diversification and risk management if you want to maximize your returns.

My guess is that if these gurus say they have had legal reviews of their materials, it was to CYA themselves and not as to the stuff they produce.Ideas are fine, understand too that in real estate, there is nothing "new" it will always be basic strategies, approaches or tactics employed regardless of the name something may be called at any time.