Does this fit in with the puzzle of FM/FM and the banks being nationalized?

Guys like @Derrick Craig can get very marginal areas to perform but in the main for out of state investors finding the best PM you can is arguably the most important piece of the puzzle.  

If all else fails you pretty much have to go find the pieces of the puzzle yourself: track down utility consumption figures from each provider, confirm property tax amounts with the municipality, and try and estimate what you expect you'll need for R&M and CapEx - this can be tough if you don't have a lot of experience but it's still a necessary exercise even if the seller does have solid financials to share.

The piece of the puzzle that most are missing on the brokering activity argument is that the PUBLIC advertising is what runs afoul of brokering laws. 

I believe the most important thing is the property management they have in place In house property management is a vital piece to the puzzle, especially an out of state investment!

We are putting puzzle pieces together... 

This has puzzled me lately the more that I think about it.

I am a complete newbie to REI and still in the exploratory phase.

That's the last piece of the puzzle for me!

I have 3 there that may provide some nuts n bolts ideas around this important piece of the puzzle.