But, as with all business, a solid foundation, due diligence, and proper screening is necessary for your success.

In the meantime, some ideas for ways to mitigate the monthly losses would be to make capital improvements in order to raise rents quicker, look into repositioning it as a short term rental/corporate housing, collect as many fees as you can (be diligent with late fees, collect additional pet fees) and lower expenses by being as hands-on and bootstrapping as much as possible until you can start making positive cash flow on this thing: self manage, mow the lawn, minimize vacancies by screening very well, make repairs and do turnovers yourself, all the things you wouldn't be able to do when investing out of state.

I’ve never heard of a landlord knowingly allowing this (why would they let people they haven’t screened use their property.) usually this is done by lying or “forgetting to tell” the landlord. 

Have you considered using a Google Voice # to set up a voicemail message so you can screen responses and not have to personally take a ton of calls (i.e. call back the ones that interest you based on voicemail responses, also gives you a chance to research their property a bit more before you call them back).  

Also make sure you are screening your tenants.

There is a white rectangle in the upper right portion of this screen that is a search function. 

Has anybody used an AI program as a back up or check, or for preliminary screening on any investment properties?

This is my first time through the screening process, and I had everything dialed in to screen multiple applicants and choose the best based on a set of criteria. 

or "Where do you find the time to screen all those tenant application and do those showings?" 

Do you have the time & tools to properly advertise the home, screen Tenants and write a lease?