Overseeing tradesmen while they work on your properties sounds like material participation to me.

I didn't use it, but I looked at the marketing materials.

However, I do not know who this could be beyond a property manager which would not work in my case since I am looking to self manage for both tax (material participation in STR loophole) and profitability reasons. 

Read as much material as possible and go to some local RE meet ups.

Regardless of which holds true, for a company who represents to have a $250M portfolio to select this home to be showcased in their marketing materials at this time speaks to the operational disconnect that exists.

For what the course offers, the price paid does not correspond with the value the material offers.

You are reading the right material already.

It's not a great time to do a first flip with high labor costs, high materials costs, high property costs, and high rates.

The appraised equity rarely materializes on a sale in these markets but the appraisals offer false impressions of the "asset" that was acquired.

There is plenty of material to take a look at that will certainly help you on your investment journey.