It seems to me that a very simple answer to this situation, if things are prolonged, is to simply allow landlords to defer mortgage payments, similar to what is already being done for homeowners. 

Simply is not true, as we are talking financial here.

I simply bought the companies I personally use and think will be around..

@Susie Wilson once a certain type of contractor 'gets ahead' on money they can become a management challenge or simply disappear altogether.

I was planning to take some cash out in order to potentially start flipping some properties or simply use the extra cash for the down payment(s) on other buy-and-hold rentals.

That being said, many folks are going to need to simply feed their family.

I simply felt that we're all in this together and I dropped my rents to a little above my mortgages.

That is a sophisticated value add.If you simply buy an RE (SFR to quad) off the MLS that has no value add, you will be waiting on rent appreciation to generate cash flow.

Win-win for a motivated seller who wants to sell NOW.No kidding you simply put on your contract i am buying for PROFIT or LOSS  my attorney taught me that on in 1975 it works like a charm. if they dont want to take your price you simply list it and make money there.. not just walk away with yet another lead you spent money to get that turned into dust. 

That would be the case if you are simply flipping properties.