If you are interested in being an investor as well as an agent then a Keller Williams office is probably a better choice. 

Given the cost and market I don't think the cost of stripping the brick is a choice right now and painted brick is very common in the area.

Old article, but breaks down the two choices-https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2015/11/1...The as far as out-of-state, you can go the turnkey route or the DIY route (I have an article comparing these two too).

Is this sufficient time remaining to do a wholesale?

On the financing end we've been subject to FHA's self sufficiency rule for as far as time spanned but recently in early 2016 they (HUD/FHA) changed their 100% income SS rule to be more realistic and added a 25% discount for repairs and maintenance + vacancy.

I am all in on all electric and as soon as the roof tiles come out I am reroofing my peronsal resi.. its only about 60k... then I will be self sufficient even here in gloomy gus Orygun

I've checked out the pricing of Bitrix24, and the free option (<5 GB storage, to time management tools, no external users) seems to be a good choice for smaller teams.

There's pros and cons to both strategies, but the truth is this is entirely a personal choice.

We are using the title company of our choice, and the earnest money is in escrow with that title company.

Do you think this is sufficient criteria to approve a prospective tenant?