If a potential tenant in this order recieves lease agreement then makes payment including security deposit, first and last months rent  via certified cashiers check is the agreement valid if it’s not signed? 

The documentation that my lenders require are typically tax returns (last 2 years), rent roll of all properties, personal financial statement, and leases on the subject property. 

@Jessica Muto I personally believe instead of hiring a property manager, you should vet a team of sub-contractors or some general contractors to handle the repairs, and get a good education on the landlord/tenant laws and the lease, then you can market the properties yourself.

@Jan Halasz all of these items are negotiable. 

If an owner agrees to a lease option contract.

My properties currently are managed by a property manager but I would like to move to managing them myself.How do you suggest I go about eliminating the management and introducing myself to the tenant and hopefully get them to re lease up again with me?

I put in my lease that I will be replacing the furnace filter, batteries for smoke detector/CO detector, and inspecting the unit every 6 months.

My lease(and most leases) specifically prohibit tenants doing repairs.

What are some of the clauses you use for your residential leases?

We are desperate to lower our monthly living expenses and are currently saving in hopes of being able to house hack on a MFR when our lease is up in December through an 3.5%FHA loan.