Perhaps sharing a report on click-thru rates of our listing pics to enable hosts to make their own decisions would have been a better use of their time. 

Reporting the mortgage interest on the return should be done with care, as the IRS does not have a copy of Form 1098 under your SSN (or EIN if business) reporting the interest.

If legal, is there anything specific that I need to include in the agreement other than the sale date and sale price to make it ironclad ?

They can know sellers seeking a quiet transaction, or they might have information about off-market properties.Because off-market transactions sometimes include personal circumstances, keep in mind to approach potential sellers with professionalism and sensitivity.

Debt included.

Looking for a virtual assistant to help with some messaging tasks, bookkeeping type work, and some reporting.

If the rentals are wholly-owned and held directly, or held through a disregarded entity ("DRE"), or held as a fractional direct interest as a TIC, they're probably reported on your Schedule E. 

Here are some snap shots from the inspection report.

For the shoe store that would include things like your utilities, rent on your store, the salaries you pay your employees, bookkeeping, advertising, insurance, and probably lots of other stuff.

Optimal acquisitions targets for efficiency will include those that are furnished, or with a history of operating as an STR.