I'm also a big believer in using software to automated management tasks.

I always did my own UNTIL I GOT AUDITED....then went through several tax prep CPA's with the run of unnecessary filing extensions, missed expenses & the usual data entry mistakes their seasonal workers make. 

I noticed with Xero, the data needed to be downloaded from my bank and then read into the software.

When you use HEL funds, keep careful records for tracing the funds in an audit. 

Our new software BP Investorhub has a built in homeowner skip trace which can find the phone #s, emails, and addresses just from a single complete property address.

In order to offset my passive real estate losses against my active income from my day job I need to claim that I'm a Real Estate Professional for taxes (750 hours spent on real estate management minimum).My accountant tells me that this is an area that the IRS audits quite often because they know it's a really sweet deal.So my question is to those that already designate themselves as a Real Estate Professional, how many units are you self managing?

Its much easier for someone that lives there to do the showings, so what we've done is use showing automation software, Tenant Turner, to automate the process.

There are also software based DIY solutions that cost far less.

I am a software engineer that lives in Plano, Texas but I am currently here in Sneads Ferry, North Carolina looking for some multi family and SFH.

I'm not sure if the juice is worth the squeeze. the sense energy monitor has great software to hone in and identify what's using the most energy.