I would definitely plan on using credit cards for any purchases when I would go to keep a paper trail.

My question is: what books, seminars, or courses would you recommend for a college student that is just getting started in the real estate investing world. 

But stick to your guns, stay the course and I know you will be happy you did. 

What documents do they require, what credit scores do they allow, how do they verify previous rental history, etc.?

If they ask why, I've always said so both our credit isn't burdened unnecessarily. 

 a few months no.. if you dont plan to use it ever.. as for basic education in regards to vocabulatory etc. the pre license courses are cheap and you will learn things.

I was just wondering if I would be able to get a solid deal considering my credit score is only 680 (I'm 18) and low amount of capital.

Pretty much the only way to get funds into a retirement account is via earned income.Of course, growing it inside an account is a different issue.With those additional properties you say you are helping your kids buy, are you putting your name on Title? 

Of course, there is a fee for this, $250 and up, depending on the size of the dwelling. 

At least here in Colorado, we have a few examples of cities -- Colorado Springs and Littleton, just outside of Denver -- that had active laws permitting non-owner-occupied STRs and then changed course and prohibited them, but in both cases, those cities grandfathered in existing permitted Airbnbs.