I think what I am going to try and do in the future is look at the list of properties that are going to go up for sale in the next county tax sale, then pick some that I feel would be a good investor type property, and try and get the property from the owner prior to it making it to sale.

I never thought picking a firm would be so nerve racking!

But there are many other lenders that do care and require anything that has to do with Prior Housing to be settled, thus, the prior landlord gets paid.The point here is that if a tenant screws an investor over, something as stupid simple as including the word RENTAL in the name of an LLC can prove to be very beneficial for the Investors here on BP in multiple ways.

Pretty simple to get a license.

Or perhaps a simple JV structure?

If I were in your shoes, I would reach out to him to pick his brain on how he went about investing.  

People just like to nit-pick over the silliest things.Your lease agreement should say, "Landlord and/or his Agent" so that you can designate others to do things on your behalf.

However, if one could pick it up for say 10 cents on the dollar, could be a gamble willing to take.  

We have also had a handful of clients over the years make bad investment choices in real estate - either through lack of experience, picking the wrong partners/providers, etc.The bottom line with a self-directed IRA is that you are your own "fund manager" so to speak. 

The electrical can easily be inspected with a simple voltmeter to test continuities, voltage, etc.