The listing and marketing is fairly straightforward and they include ways in which you can directly divert fees, cleaning fee, directly to the contractors responsible for those operations. 

I put a new roof on it, cleaned it up and resurfaced the driveway.

I regularly listen to the BiggerPockets podcasts, have read "Set for Life" and "The Book on Rental Property Investing" and I am eager to continue learning about the world of Real Estate Investing. 

Odds are pretty good that she left and you can simply clean the place and move on.

Put it in writing, and remind them that per your lease, the apartment needs to be returned empty and clean, and you’ll return their security deposit within 30 days.

You can handle the clean-out, find people to run yard sales.

It's standard practice for all legal notifications to be in writing, preferably by regular mail, but these days email notification may suffice.

Isolated college towns you won't find in RI, much like MA they spill over into the regular rental market and you are talking about targeting students.  

DC offers down payment assistance to those buying 2-4 unit properties, you can negotiate the closing costs, seller financing and creative financing happens regularly. 

I make a comfortable living and easily support myself and young family and am able to save some money to invest on a regular basis.