Also go through a servicing company for payments to the seller, escrow can probably help you out with a recommendation for that. 

I specialize in STR & Co-living concepts, which I recommend for the highest rental income potential! 

I would recommend taking a look into Columbus Ohio as you can still find positive cash flow and very strong appreciation here.

What books would you recommend for someone who’s just starting out?

For starters, I recommend to begin with a single family home or if you are looking to start locally, do house hacking. 

What's your recommendation to market it?   

I would recommend that you don't ignore it; repair the drywall, monitor it and see if the drywall cracks in the same locations again.

I would also highly recommend you set some parameters when thinking about working with non-accredited investors or if you are one and want to invest on a large deal. 

As explained above, income from the financed portion of the property in an IRA would be taxed as well, but you can deduct related expenses, including depreciation, to minimize this tax liability; that is why I recommend a discussion with a tax expert to understand what your numbers would look like.Hope this helps!  

My recommendation is to save money through your W2 until you not only have enough for a down payment but a reserve for repairs as well.