Given I plan on doing a lot of traveling at the same time, I'll probably end up need a property manager running most things (incl. finding tenants).I'm of course going to do more internet searching for a lot of this information and continue doing more research around here over the next couple weeks, but if there's any immediate 'gotchas' I should be watching for or things I should get rolling now because they take time (e.g. setting up appointments to see places, getting mortgages pre-approved). 

You can also make an appointment and go down there in person .

I do not have the contractors contact info to confirm or schedule appointments and he will not provide it.

I have an appointment with JAG next week to work out the legal issues in order to cover myself just in case there may be an issue in which your speaking of. 

They even balked when I wanted to walk through the units when I showed up to the appointment specifically to walk through the units during inspection...an appointment we had made for this very reason.

This person would make me money by gaining appointments because face to face interaction is where I excel.

Send me a PM to set up an appointment.

If they claim they never obtained it, they can claim twice the amount of the deposit against me in court.So short of obtaining a scanner to take with me to appointments or bringing duplicate copies to fill out and sign, how would you suggest I mitigate this risk?

I didn't mean get around it as in avoiding the court appointed receivership, I mean't overcome.

Ambitious but I know I will have to put tons of work and talking to motivated sellers to even see one potential seller appointment.