With your skills and background I would guess you would be best utilized with a larger organization that has the deal volume to afford to pay you full time.

I have purchased and utilized the deal Automator and can give you at least my side of what I experienced.

I work in Albuquerque, NM and wear many hats utilizing many tools.20 rental units12 active flips - recs to purchase -some are now rec notes-private money on the flips utilizing retirement plans/corporate/nonprofit funds-wholesaling and I have started a new platform of providing financed wholesales.would love to see if my knowledge is of value to others.

They are a young engaged couple, and we actually have a few acquaintances in common (a connection we discovered when they were moving in). 

Utilizing our collaborative financing model allowed for efficient funding, covering both the purchase price and any necessary costs associated with the resale.

What are the most common challenges investors face in these neighborhoods, and how can they be mitigated?

Definitely check with your CPA, but I am pretty sure you cannot write off the "lost" income but you still get to write off the mortgage interest as well as utilities etc while there.

Most homes are 15-20 minutes from the headquarters of the world’s largest retailer and have mountain bike trails in the common areas. 

A little background to start out because I'm feeling a little scatterbrained with the directions to take next: I'm 23 and currently own 2 duplexes with gross income just shy of $4k per month, net after mortgages, taxes, utilities, repairs, etc. is about $2,125 give or take depending on the month.

This is basically you paying into a bond that will pay damage and lost rents if you are unable to the landlord but this isn't a collective of money pooled together for the common good.