Some of your requests may fall outside this manager’s standard practices, and customizing services for each client isn’t practical for most PMs.

Good luck, you are a busy man with school, family and baseball.Likely your best bet is house hacking (if your partner and child are willing to share housing). 

If they have money and can compete on pricing, brokers will be the best bet.  

In the meantime, I would like to gain experience through employment with an existing real estate or property management company.Is there anyone out there that can provide me with some good advice/guidance as to the best and most practical route to achieve that goal?

If you have multiple LLCs, best practice would be having a Plus subscription.  

You can talk to the bank about a loan; however, my bet is they will want some form of contract and scope of work and will only pay him at set milestones.

Curious if this is normal practice or in other management agreements people have signed? 

I will not comment as to the tax laws and underlying rules - that is a discussion you can have with your tax advisor who presumably you are paying to help you.What I will do is provide practical and business guidance on tracking time.Firstly, there are apps available that can assist with time tracking where you can specifically detail your time, who you met with, etc.

Best bet is to carefully analyze the zoning maps and regulations or just call the town and ask.

Much better as a short term acquisition strategy for flips IMO but always a high-risk strategy that should not be practiced by anyone who doesn't have the liquid capital to pay off the loan if needed.