I wanted to hire VA's to handle the cold calling aspect of things, since that is the most time consuming part in my mind.

Even after that time passes it depends on the state what actions you may take but in my state for a relatively modest fee you simply have a constable post a notice and physically remove them 10 days later.

Zillow's recommendations, just like the Zestimate, aren't perfect, but they can be a good starting point for consumers, particularly in markets like ours where buyers are typically not local or otherwise are relocating to the area.

Yes, you can self-manage from a far but it is very difficult and time consuming.

Appreciation would allow us to get out with a modest profit, but I’ve posed going Section 8 via the Affordable Housing website to my business partner.

Certainly consuming information via different sources (books/podcasts/etc.) is important but also taking action on those things you learn.  

By acting swiftly, we turned a modest investment into a profitable deal within hours.

Barbara Corcoran: Built a real estate empire from a modest start and became a prominent figure in the industry.--- Tactic 1: Branding and PR: Corcoran used media and public relations to build her brand and attract high-end clientele.--- Tactic 2: Niche Specialization: She focused on the New York market, becoming an expert in her area.--- Tactic 3: Empowering Agents: Corcoran built a strong team, providing them with the tools and support needed to excel, which in turn grew her business.These investors show that success in real estate often comes from a mix of strategic purchasing, market specialization, strong branding, and building robust teams. 

It's time-consuming but comes with a ton of opportunity if you have the time to spare which is why I'm suggesting it.Once you figure out how to acquire, you can decide if you want to wholesale, flip, hold, etc.

You are already in the right place in the BP forums, but try to consume as much podcast and reading material as you can.