We're not fat-cat real estate moguls. 

Even those are less common now because it's so much easier to go to the store and buy it as needed. 

@Jason Ma The thinking behind that is that businesses like that do a lot of research and only locate in good areas, same with large anchor department stores.

@Christian Cummings in that price range we would use an in stock big box store counteretop if the design permited an instock installation; I like Menard's countertops best-- an 8' straight high res is just under $120.

The lower income areas tend to have lower income focused businesses and services; Buy here pay here, rent to own, pawn shops, clinics, cheaper merchandise stores, etc...

If it was $9,000 in collections from anywhere else (like a store credit, or car loan), it'd seem like a decent tenant application that maybe you could justify. 

It has a ton of popular fast-food chains in the city as well and a few major big box stores.

You can automate your invoices, collect payments online, sign leases and store them too, screen your tenants, track maintenance, the list of benefits is truly quite long.

If W-2, many states don't require a license if they only manage the properties of their employer.3) Where are they storing rental applications, leases, etc?

Tons of others like that off your respective mobile App Store that sell a similar service of a second phone line in/out.