I expressed that I pretty much know what I am looking for and that she does not have to drive all over Atlanta letting me into homes, I basically just need my offers submitted.

Feed their own language back to them to express that you understand, and ask questions where you honestly don't understand.Hope this helps ...

When there are replies to that pitch from some of those prospects expressing interest, then I can take it from there and close the deal.I tried two virtual assistant companies from India, recommended by Tim Ferriss in the Four Hour Work Week, Brickwork and Your Man in India, neither of them worked out. 

Meanwhile my mom expressed that she wants to start investing as well.

so I am currently working on my first subject to deal but the seller has expressed to me he owes plenty less than what he's listing the home for sale as and his main goal is to do a 1031 exchange on the property but said he is open to a subject to deal.

In my immediate cities' market, if a seller expresses some financial, renter, or property-condition distress, I am more than willing to make the trip.

But if I had to, I would take the express bus or Sounder train. 50-60 minutes each way.

I have expressed my interest in investing to several potential partners (most of whom are also newbies and not experienced).

Search Groupon Dallas as they had a great deal from Real Estate Express 

I'm trying to figure out the math of this plan, working it backwards from my goal, and using simple (but smart) investment benchmarks, to guide and determine what is it I need to buy (as expressed in property value, NOIs, IRRs, PVs...) over the course of the 10 years.