"I cannot add an asset to the balance sheet without writting a check and posting it to the correct asset account?"

Of Course you can list all of your Assets, Lliabilities and Equity. You need to enter the Values with their Offsets.

Anything you Own and anything you Owe, are affecting Equity. LIke this:

I own a Building, with my Original Basis of $150,000 and the depreciation so far is $50,000 and the Land was given a basis of $10,000. I have a mortgage of $20,000, too.

Make a Journal Entry:

Debit Fixed Asset Building/Improvements $150,000

Debit Land Asset $10,000

Credit Loan $20,000

Credit Depreciation $50,000

Credit Equity (the difference of $160,000 minus $70,000) $90,000 <== My Equity

I teach Equity like this: If I am hit by a bus, you need to Sell Everything, pay off my debt, and you get to Party on the difference. The Difference = My Equity.