I haven't yet seen anything that talks about the improvement requirements to qualify as you alluded to, but this is a game changer.

@Jason Ma Broker reports (they leverage and pay for databases), market research (online sources, personal network) and conversations with other investors/lenders/brokers/property managers.

The real estate center at a&m has an online pdf of tenant landlord law.

We are wanting to get this place brought up to the current times and try to automate payments and accept them online. 

Online banks or banks that operate in both states will probably be your best bet.

They have a big online presence.

As for how hard it is.. that goes without saying there is nothing tougher in the real estate game than this.. simply because you need to be proficient in all aspects  of the transaction.. so I guess you just have to decide which slice of the apple you want and how much capital you have to throw at it .. how much time you have and your sales and closings skills.. which again listening to the guys in the room these were no wallflowers..

Today I found a loan amortization schedule in excel, there's also a bunch online.

It's been reduced to $150 for file by mail, and $250 to file online.

Also, if you haven't met with the broker it can help to have some kind of written track record of investments (either online or in a file).