Obviously, i can't inspect the property because of distance.

She does have 2 Brothers who I cannot get a hold of no matter what I try and they do not Live here in Tucson, They obviously don't seem to care for the property or want it.

Understand the fees involved and calculate the total cost for an entire year of management so you can compare the different managers.

Totally agree with @Dan Bryskin. 

It is a totally different process.

I saved a total of 20% from the cheapest independent contractor I could find. 

That's mortgage fraud.If they don't have equity to tap and don't have the cash to lock in a new home first, they'll have to sell their old home first and the buy something.Lenders look at debt to income ratios (DTI), if the some total of the old mortgage and the new mortgage goes over a certain %, which is based on the type of loan they're looking for, they can't get the loan.

The house is quite obviously not in use and hasn't been for some time.

Yes, there are so many neighborhoods making up the city, some obviously better than others. 

My rule of thumb, estimate 10% of the total purchase price as closing costs.