I would shoot him a text and follow up with a letter through the mail to be 100% sure if I was concerned.

that's a huge concern of mines now

While OOS investing can be very challenging due to unfamiliarity with the location, building a team of professionals that you trust can help to alleviate those concerns.

Mortar, paint & bonding materials deteriorate leaving cracks, gaps, etc. which can be concerning to look at, but this is very often addressed with repointing.

Start with BiggerPockets Ultimate Beginners Guide (free).

This is a great strategy to use for beginners who want to get a foot in the door of investing while also learning crucial skills just as tenant management. 

Sounds like a good plan, should have plenty of options available.I would be cognizant of any group you talk with on two areas, the location of the property including any potential concerns of it being 'rural', as well as the minimum purchase price and/or minimum loan amounts.

While there are definitely benefits to running a fund, it's tough to achieve success with funds as a beginner because oftentimes investors are attracted to the track record of the person or team running the fund. 

Building a network here can open doors to partnerships, mentorships, and local insights.3.Explore the Blogs and Podcasts: BiggerPockets has tons of content—blogs, podcasts, webinars—that cover everything from beginner strategies to advanced investment tactics.4.Utilize the Deal Analysis Tools: If you’re considering an investment, the deal analysis calculators are invaluable for running numbers and understanding potential returns.5.Set Clear Goals: Define what you want to achieve, whether it’s learning a specific strategy or connecting with certain types of investors.

These are just some of my thoughts and concerns.