Can anyone explain what zillows application is lacking and if I can do the rest of the background screening research on my own or should i just opt for the more expensive applications and let them handle all the background stuff?

Add $2/mo to the rent if you need help covering the expense. 

We paid for it in cash and expect this first full year to cashflow anywhere from 20-30k after expenses, so should pay our investment back in the next 3-4 years. 

I am looking for suggestions if there is least expensive solution to this scenario.

But, there are custodians out there that process expense payment requests within a day, which make it really easy to get around this IRA rule.

Work on increasing your W2 income, saving money (don't buy new cars, expensive clothes etc), pay down credit card debt.

We raise the rent annually in response to the escalating costs of various expenses.

Hey Jordan, totally can relate with you being from an expensive real estate market - I moved to Columbus a few years ago (from Portland, Oregon which was super expensive) to become a full time real estate investor, and ever since, I've completed quite a lot of BRRRRs, flips, and own a successful rental portfolio here in Columbus Ohio.

After expenses are deducted.  

Probably like any program the % is small, but there are success stories, real success stories.It however is pretty expensive, so that is a consideration.I think there are people probably in the middle that should have just spent that money buying real estate and learning by experience.