We manage a property that was having drain field issues for awhile, got estimates and had the owner approve one of the vendors.

Get an attorney and get these losers out then hire a property manager to properly vet any future tenants! 

Like "Biggest single family propetry management mistakes ever" etc

I'm also having issue with no onsite manager, but in regards to insurance. 

I have a bachelors in Construction Managements and run substation electrical jobs for a living while my wife is a stay at home mom with the kids.

You will also discover the warranties don't cover as much as you think, and claims are often denied.Home warranties are so bad that most professional property managers will not manage a property with one in place.

We weren't willing to take that risk.My wife operated our first home and after a few months we found a really solid knowledgeable manager who took over operations while still working closely with my wife. 

The BEST method for real estate investing is very simple: increase earnings, reduce expenditures, save, and invest from your own funds.You should focus on increasing earnings and learning how to manage your budget.

Start as a co-host and work under a vacation rental management company in the area to learn the ropes.

How much of a pain will it be to manage tenants?