I want to automated this process for my business. 

We are now investing in an advanced CRM that will interface with our PM software for even more customization and automation - including hiring a specific expert to implement it for us.It will be a painful learning curve - short-term pain, for long-term gain.Suggest you make your list as you learn on the fly about what various softwares offer.Check these out: Buildium, Doorloop, Appfolio and Rentvine.Take your time, because switching is another painful task:(

A secured debt is one in which you sign an instrument (such as a mortgage, deed of trust, or land contract) that: Makes your ownership in a qualified home security for payment of the debt, Provides, in case of default, that your home could satisfy the debt, and Is recorded or is otherwise perfected under any state or local law that applies.In other words, your mortgage is a secured debt if you put your home up as collateral to protect the interests of the lender.

Do they use "trust deed", as opposed to a "mortgage" as the name of the instrument to secure the loan there?

Petersburg, VA, a city that has been economically devastated for years, since the Civil War, is now recognizing the Civil War Sesquicentennial, with its historic battlefields, mansions and properties that were part of Civil War history.If you really love history and this country, wouldn't you like to be instrumental in rebuilding a crumbling USA?

As such, I enjoy not doing nonsense work and automating anything that can be.Bills, rent collection, basic maintenance, etc., all gets automated in our business.As I begin to consider expanding our business away from A market SFR to B/C market MFH, I am curious what types of work others have found useful to shift to a VA?

Most cities will have a register of deeds office where you can look up recording instruments like a mortgage.

On a separate note, if you are reading this thread and already have a long-term RV Park I'm working on a hardware/software to automate billing campers for electricity. 

So you know, the Note is the Obligation to pay, the Deed Of Trust is the security instrument that secures the note, putting the property up as collateral.  

There are also developers available that can help you build your own system for anywhere from $20-$200 per hour.Here are a couple of options (I have used them but have no affiliation with any):REIFlow - prebuilt software for Podio REI InvestorFuse - prebuilt software for Podio REIUpwork.com - you can hire developers here that can build something custom for youGlobiflow.com - this is a custom workflow engine that can automate your workflow, but it's totally DIY.