Then, you can compare how that asset is likely to perform - vs alternative purchase/s!

There is tax law that states that rental property held for the purpose of long term (1 year plus) and so held at least that long, at sale, the tax is at capital gains rates and not ordinary income like flips or rentals held less than one year.

It does not optimize returns, and it makes you a target for a lawsuit.Every six months or so you should look at your portfolio and compare it to your long-term strategy.  

Each tax bill will have the owner's name an mailing address.You can try to google their name + address in the off-chance something will come up to get their phone number.As far as finding an accurate ARV - this is challenging and would typically require you to look at comparable sales for similar properties in the same area in the last 6 months or so.

Understand the fees involved and calculate the total cost for an entire year of management so you can compare the different managers.

I've seen rental estimates on SFHs there that looked comparable to duplexes.

I have done it and it will be a very profitable investment compared to traditional financing since you're essentially investing minimal amounts of your own money and reaping the benefits of the built equity and appreciation (and potentially even cashflow). 

Compare that to whatever you invested in, which you will likely have to pay a lot taxes on and it often times doesn't make sense.

However, the purpose of having an accountant is to help him not where you are questioning him.

It is disregarded for the tax purpose.