Always run credit reports and criminal background.

You could break down your paper like this:1) Background - banking crisis, banks not being as willing to lend, how lending criteria changed2) Overview of creative financing methods with subsequent sections going more into depth on each one3) Hard money - what is it, how did it get started, how people find lenders, what lenders charge, and why people use it4) Private lending - what it is, how people find private lenders, why people would go to friends and family for real estate investing5) Peer-to-peer lending - sites like Lending Club and Prosper6) Credit cards - using cash advances, 0% balance transfer offers7) CrowdfundingYou could more than easily write 100 pages on the above topic. 

Amanda, I'd rent to you in a second, wouldn't even waste time or money on a background check... ;-)But your response is what I would expect.

My background as a paralegal has spawn a keen interest in Real Estate investing.

The economy has some uncertainties and that is the dominant factor in real estate. 

I don't live in the area anymore, but hope that with my attorney background and organizational skills, I will be able to manage this property from a distance utilizing the best team I can put together.  

Good morning,Here is my background. 

However if I can get them out in one week for $250, I would be happy to pay it and just move on as my time is more valuable, I can upgrade with remodel and get higher paying tenants with better background checked.

Now you can just dominate.

Regardless what area you study, you’ll learn a bit about all types of law and you can always sit down with a few books for extracurricular reading when/if you need some specific RE background.