They are in nice gated communities.

No room in this world for a criminal. its one thing I have mentioned on BP more than once  just because someone does a podcast.. it seems there is an irrational exuberance to trust and believe that they are experts or expert investors or whatever I can think of a few I know for a fact are criminals.. past financial felons etc.. but BP is not the gate keeper we all need to just take it as information and entertainment basically.. 

Not trying to start out of state out the gates! 

Although this property management role is still a job to me at the moment, this gate keeping opportunity may get me into the RE investing full time one day, by for example expanding into a PM business, getting more deals, etc..

In these situations I either counsel my client to put in an escalation clause like @Will Fraser mentioned or just offer above ask (if the property is worth it) right out of the gate and try your best to get the seller to turn their attention to you.

Out of the gate I actually got several offers for around $100,000 for the house in the first week, but they were both owner-carry offers. 

2 complete sets of keys, 2 garage openers, 1 fence gate key

I've been reading a lot and gearing up to start investing. Long story short, all the money I have for startup is in a 403b retirement account through my employer. My plan was to either borrow from that account so that...

Electrical and water needs updated, 2 homes need torn down (highly doubt they can be moved), gravel pads need updated to concrete (which will be done as homes get replaced - but 3 right out of the gate need poured), and there is no management fee btw. 

See if they require a Knox Box at the front gate.