As far as I have discerned, the area I am interested in has a high emphasis on knowledge worker type jobs (tech, software, engineering, financial, etc).  

I was considering buying this software https://contentgrabber.com/ to collect my data and criteria for acquisitions automatically.

I am sure there is other software available you could use but I believe in the BP.com calculators as the best way.  

I'm very much a newbie investor and while I run a successful software company, am still only learning about property.On my initial research I've found a couple of one bed apartments in a nearby town.Financially, I'd be looking at 30% deposit on a mortgage of €40,000.

I had QB2013 pro already and had been buying the new version every 3-4 years so I would have been buying the new software by next year anyways

The forums mention a lot about PM software, but I'm going to be contracting with a local PM Firm to do that for me.  

I'm currently working full time as a software developer in NYC.

A potential partner in this could be a RE atty who I'm friends/acquaintances with and has expressed interest in starting a property mgmt division in his business as well, however he lacks some of what I bring to the table, (financial reporting, prpty mgmt software experience, marketing etc) so think we'd be a good fit as obviously his full time presence and the legal side would be a huge plus.  

anybody know of any free programs preferable for Apple?Thanks

I use buildium....its online property management software for PMs and rental owners.