They will have the mentality that their neighbor stole from them for a very long time and they had to personally carry the burden of their neighbors non-payment. 

Not sure how to offer "fresh" items like milk or bakery muffins if I can't have them in a supply closet for the maids to put out after a cleaning...I am putting a Keurig in and planning to offer a variety of coffee, tea, and hot cocoa pods and some shelf-stable half and half or creamers.

Although I have a biased opinion, as does a non-agent, let me assure those in doubt that it's much more than filing out a couple of forms, especially on the listing side. 

I would invest in other "red" states that are more landlord friendly, as CA is one of the least landlord friendly states so it could take anywhere from 4-6 months to evict a non-paying tenant. 

I'm the Campus Director at a local non-profit and my wife is an Occupational Therapist.  

Quicken - Of course, maintaining clean accounting records is very helpful....Venmo, Paypal, GooglePay - I use all of these services for one off payments to third parties. 

Currently I am currently an analyst with the loan originations team at a non-bank commercial real estate lender. 

I know some people use buying agent, but I don't see them as necessary or really a big value for them for those non-SFMs.

Brian...thanks..... if you buy a note and get a deed transfer it works easily once the banker or lender agrees...might take a few arm twisting but they do not want non performing notes at the bank.Pretty easy really...and gets a owner off the sherrif sale hook and the bank is finished with a deal going bad fast.

Keep it simple.I made to many mistakes...so now I only will get an obvious good deal at about 50% and no major work....work should get done in two or three weeks and put up a for sale the second you close....for .99 cents you can get a for sale by owner and you will see the neighbors will be your best buyers...even though the house may have been for sale for a year or more.Once the neighbors see the house sold...then they want it...they say...darn...I should have bought it....so jack up the ask about $25K over what you paid and just fix the yard and paint the front of the house and clean up the mess inside and see what happens.