Questions and Answers for first purchase? (Out of State Investor)

[Rizwan Alam]

Alright guys I've got some cash saved up and I have been browsing and asking questions on this forum. I am first looking to acquire a couple 'Buy and Hold' properties to bring in cash flow before jumping on 'Fix n' Flip'. The primary city of interest has been Jacksonville, FL, but I found a really good contact in Cleveland and the deals their are mind blowing. I am about to purchase my first property and I have a real estate agent there in Cleveland that I trust, but I want to do my own due diligence as well. So I have these general newbie questions?

Questions: (Not all these questions pertain to the property I am looking at but I come across these situations when looking at deals.)

1. Who do I pay. the title company? Which document makes me the rightful owner?
2. How to verify if there is a mortgage on the place?
3. How to verify if there are back-taxes on the place?
4. How to verify if a property is Section 8 approved?
5. How to verify the claimed rental income?
6. How to get damages and repair costs? (Hire an Inspection Company and that's it right? Or gotta hire a contractor as well?)
7. How to get the accurate ARV?
8. How to find out if the house is or has the potential to be on schedule by city to be demolished?
9. How to find out the recommended property management company is actually real and licensed and legit? (Silly question I know but...)
10. What kind of contract do I need to pay a partner a percentage of 'Net Profit' of that property? Is it better to get new contract for every property or one contract for all properties?
11. If we use flipping as an exit strategy, do I have to pay to my the partner who is managing my properties?

Thank you guys for reading such newbie and silly questions and considering to answer them.

-Rizzy