The owner, Chris, is phenomenal and if it weren't for the way he views customer service and the culture of the company I'm not sure I'd have taken a position in this field.  

It will also allow you to use a contract collection service, which I would recommend.  

I have less than a year left in the Air Force, so a steep task at hand is to gain enough traction in real estate to walk away from the service in 11 months.

I enjoy rehabbing and improving houses, I just need some motivation to figure out the financial aspects involved.  

They have good rates on rentals and I know they service the KC area as I use them myself.  

Our state lobbyist out of Olympia spoke for a full hour on the socialistic bills and ideas coming out of the city council in Seattle in the Capitol.They are contemplating or have already enacted rules regarding no rent raises when service calls are unresolved, must show cause to terminate a m-m agreement, rent control, 5% capital gains taxes on RE sales (in addition to the 1.7% excise tax), pre-'78 lead inspections, periodic unit inspections, etc.  

Use a realtor to gain access, or if you don't want to consistently depend on someone else, just pay for a MLS service for investors.

Regardless, California landlords will have to be much more vigilant in their tenant vetting process, and not overly dependent on the paid screening services.

I am looking to begin my adventure in REI to improve my retirement account in order to have the opportunity to retire in the next 5-10 years. 

If you are replacing the main service as well, they need to pull a temporary pole as noted by @Aaron McGinnis or use a generator.