I would also look at employment/unemployment statistics, and get a good sense of who the biggest employers are in an area. 

The common thought is to not rent to friends or family.

Common fees will include a set-up fee, a leasing fee for each turnover or a lease renewal fee, marking up maintenance, retaining late fees, and more.

Common problem, no easy answer:(We try to allow our owner clients to arrange their own maintenance, but have learned the hard way there MUST be limitations:1) They can't hire our people!

Self-showing services are extremely common but that should be in the contract. 

After a year or two we intend to buy a larger property in the same area and partner with some friends on it but I do believe a boots on the ground person employed only by you is KEY to executing anything if you are not in the country yourself.

Common tasks include guiding (for example, blind, severe physical disability), alerting (severe diabetes, seizures), retrieving/operating (pushing buttons, switches, etc).

I think it's probably less common here but I've often wondered about how difficult it would be to convert a detached garage, etc. on a property from a legal standpoint.

One common approach is to form a legal entity, such as an LLC, where both of you are equal partners.

On the other hand, you might find a common reason that a few of your potential investors are not investing that might change your own thoughts on the deal.