I'm new to the REI world, but have always been interested in real estate in some form or fashion while working on my formal education and looking to jump into the Rat Race (ha!).

Find and attend some local REIA clubs ... not the guru seminars, but the less formal ones where local investors go to network and chat about their RE investments.

Looking to remove about 11 ft of wall between formal living and great room.

Is an email statement from the renter sufficient where they indicate they have vacated the property and that it was their own decision or do I need to do something a little more formal here?

The raw list might disparage a person by listing them when they in fact are not responsible for the taxes.Also, a list of properties that are only delinquent and not in a judicial action really has little value to investors looking for motivated sellers as these folks are not motivated until the county is about to sell their property. 

did you issue some formal letter?

A formal written offer has not been submitted to me yet by the realtor because I think everyone is feeling me out.

During the mortgage formalities and while the property was under contract one of the other tenants gave notice that they would vacate.

Do you write up a formal business plan?

It gets complicated so make sure to be formal about the partnership.