The odds and physics are against you. 

Downside = no physical branch if you ever need in-person service. 

Physical REI is not a paper investment; almost anyone whose invested on paper numbers I am willing to bet is showing a lot less than the reality of if it unless they took realized gains by selling(into the appreciation rate) or cashed out refi. 

Yes, you're missing the underlying appreciation of the house, the value of storing money in a physical asset versus an alternative and capex costs.

Someone physically knocks on doors until people answer - more reliable than phone alarms.

I am an out of state investor so I can't physically take them to small claims court. 

(in my area the soil of each proposed lot has to pass a perc test if the properties will be on septic or be able to connect to the city sewer if not... you'll need both legal access and physical access... the lot will need to be level enough to build on, etc. there is a lot more to look into but those are the big ones). 

The majority of the others are mailed a check, but we do still have a few contractors who pick up physical checks.I'm also not looking at scaling, I'm just looking at renting this one house.

To the local title company experts and agents in the Erie County area:I need help understanding when I can skip the time and cost of a new land survey (the physical measuring of the lot) when closing on a simple, existing single-family house that hasn't changed in 50 years.For a standard, old residential home, can we usually use the old survey from the previous owner to get the necessary title insurance?

You do not get new depreciation for the loan you've taken out, so be careful that you are not going to be taxed on income you are not physically seeing.Another item, If you cash out to purchase another property you must follow what is called the Tracing rules.