Please keep in mind all of this is just my opinion based on my very limited experience... so keep that perspective as you read. 

We stay within city limits on the southside. 

in most states as long as your felony is not financial you can get a real estate license I woujld do that.then work for a top producer and learn the trade.. do his or her busy work share commisisons.I have seen many apprentice for 3 to 5 years then strike out on their own and end up doing quite well for themselves.trying to be a real estate investor with limited financials is a pretty tough thing to do with or without criminal backgroudn

Construction, for example, will add risk to a project because it limits the capacity for collecting rents during this time.

The law requires inside temperatures and by limiting their input and control, it could have negative or deadly consequences.

The older we get the more we realize that our time is very limited and we get more considerate on where and how to spend time.

You can't set it up just for purposes of qualifying for a Solo 401(k).Also, if you contribute to your day job's 401(k), you can still contribute to your Solo 401(k), but the total contribution limit ($18,500 for 2018) is the max for both plans combined, not separately, meaning that it's not $18,500 for your day job's 401(k) and $18,500 for your Solo 401(k) but rather a grand total of $18,500 for both.

How should i handle or screen these rental applicants for previous rental history ?

I want to make as smart of a move as I can given my current limited options so I want to see what others would do in my situation.

What will you do to be sure work requests are fixed in a timely fashion, how will you handle and process leasing activity and rental applications, how will you handle access issues at the properties, how will you do bookkeeping, etc... .