@Alex Black Feel your pain...finding myself in a somewhat similar situation now with student housing in PA...in my case renovation that took too long and a will be nice house which currently look as if it was vandalized...demo just over and school start next week...hope to get it rented for spring semester.I would do what @Patricia Steiner recommended...but advertised it by room as well...not familiar with the university you are operating in but there are usually last minute transfers...graduate students that return from fellowships or research abroad...international students which many time have harder time to secure places due to lack of credit and such...all these tenants usually look solo...if you can give the option of renting it furnished then even better.I would also not let the PM handle all the advertising...I am putting the ads with my contact on Places4Students...Perchn and Craigslist...the 2 first sites are specific for student housing...heard also on Uloop...then when I get an inquiry I forward it to PM and follow up with them to make sure prospective tenant was contacted.I also agree @Costin I. above that the responsibility is all ours as investors...I would not run after the PM for every little things...but I would put myself a reminder to ask for copies of the leases by Mid-March and nag the PM until I get them...Even that doesn't always work...I was calling both PM and contractor on an almost bi-weekly basis and still didn't manage to make them move fast enough...and high on my TDL is to look for an alternative management when renovation is done.Good luck

If you wish to invest in alternative assets such as real estate you need to find a custodian allowsing that.

Is multifamily going to be the only alternative, or govt provided housing?

@Johnathan CodyWorking with Banks as an investor for purchases and cashouts can be a hassle.The next best option is an alternative financing source.Hard money rates and terms usually 8-12% on rate with a one year loan term.

A good realtor can offer up alternatives.

I don't anticipate a crash from technology.

I see some other websites out there that are doing the similar things as Roofstock but is there any other good ones Biggerpockets community recommend?

But due to my colorblindness I had to take an alternative course. 

Alternatively, with a HELOC, I could buy smaller properties for cash and then use the BRRR strategy.I'm looking for buy and hold (and not flips) and I'm open to investment areas (preferably in the tri-state area but if I can find good cash flow, I'd be open). 

However, not every one is technology or computer savvy.