while i do think it's valuable to analyze properties, it's really difficult to underwrite based on photos. 

Especially as just about every big name on BP has shared various stories of having done exactly that through the stages of there career. 

as @Marcus Auerbach alluded to, out of state / remote / out of country investing is difficult... do you have everything else lined up?

However, from my research it seems as though getting financed for a property with an llc that shows no income can be difficult.

We own and manage two and one is particularly difficult during the shoulder (slow) seasons.

If they are difficult, the current landlord may not give you a straight answer because they want them to find a place and move out.

Having a long-term rental while living abroad is do-able.Flipping houses while abroad, in my opinion, more difficult, especially if its your first go around with real estate.I would recommend taking a flight and staying in the area for a week and inspect the neighborhoods and make connections.You can reach out to @Elenis Camargo who has a PM company in Jacksonville.Best of luck though.

CA is an expensive market and regarding tenant laws in my eyes more complicated/difficult as a rookie landlord.

It's very difficult to find off-market deals with predictable upside opportunity.  

This could be very difficult if you are going to self-manage, as you will be turning units every year and dealing with a lot of repairs.