What specific steps should a new investor take to make sure distress is only cosmetic and not structural if we have no construction background?

Can anyone recommend a roofer and electrician specifically? 

If you have specific questions about property management, I'll be happy to help!

If it is up here, drop a comment and I can more specifically share and give insights.

@Luke Morris TamneyI would open a high-interest savings or money market account, specifically for real estate investing, and save it there.

While I wouldn't call it "big boys" - there is a very small world of professional companies dedicated to this super small specific asset class. 

A lot of times, these types of lifestyle choices will start limiting you down very quickly to specific areas, and since you are going to be living in the property, are likely to have a heavy weight on the neighborhoods.  

Specifically, I'm wondering:Does the person responsible for finding the house and buyer need to be explicitly mentioned in any of the closing documents?

Have you thought about the specific strategy you are going to use or what your business model might look like?

The IRS, in a now discontinued Publication 535, used to say:If you are an individual and your attempt to go into business is not successful, the expenses you had in trying to establish yourself in business fall into two categories.The costs you had before making a decision to acquire or begin a specific business.