However, this issue may change the underwriting and potentially make qualification for a loan more difficult. I

I would NOT give it to the Sellers directly, as you would have great difficulty getting it back in the event you properly cancelled the contract or if the Seller defaulted.

I have had some difficulty finding the right agent who is excited about the project since it is far away from Seattle. 

I've long lost it through technology changes, sadly.

I think technology makes it pretty easy to see the neighborhood, and keyword searches in Google about the street/neighborhood might help, but definitely agree with you on never assuming.

For someone who is new in the real estate industry, all this can be overwhelming, especially the technology part. 

The difficulty is ensuring that you always call from your Google voice number so the tenants don't get their hands on your personal cell number.

Then you have renewal fees and continuing education you have to buy.Mostly, you will pay around $600 to $800 per year to be a member of the local board of Realtors and you’ll have to pay your office a monthly technology fee and or desk fee.The test material will not teach you how to be an investor.

The difficulty here is that if the wire really is that old, doing that may disturb the insulation on the individual conductors, making them short to each other or the outlet box. 

This playlist from The Hoover Institute explains the difficulties with measurement much better than I ever could.