Talking face to face is much more effective and there are not a lot of investors doing this as it can be a very cumbersome activity.As far as having a hard time finding PM's and GC's go... most of the bad PM's have been run off or put out of business, but many investors expect their PM's to do everything for free and don't want to spend any money in maintaining and protecting their properties and keeping their tenants happy.

My goal is to build cash flow, pay off debt and be financially comfortable.

Inevitably, there are times when you will "house rich and cash poor", which is often a great time to bring in a partner's financial resources. 

I am now interested hiring accountants or lawyers who have experience working with real estate investors and are familiar with best practices to reduce taxes and protect investments.

Sometimes financial institutions will stamp it on the Note rather than providing the document.

They should be able to guide you on the best plan suited for your financial and legal situation.My recommendation would be to NOT put each property in a separate LLC.

The advantage of adding another tenant is that it is another person financially responsible for rent that you can chase later if needed.  

Like most members on here, I am have a passion for the industry but mostly importantly, I am looking for financial freedom.

Do understand windows have the longest financial payback.

I just received the financials and books, so I will definitely be taking a close look at those.