@Moira Mosley-Duffy - In addition to the commentary already provided by @Milton Rivera and @Grant Rothenburger... it's worth mentioning that we've had a positive experience with the service called WeGoLook before entering due diligence, when purchasing properties remotely.They took updated pictures, did a 2 page (simple) PDF summary of neighborhood observations and we paid a couple extra bucks for iPhone videos of the neighborhood, to make sure we weren't purchasing properties in warzones.

I mean, there is a video on Youtube on what NOT to do.

It was all done through video and not through glass like you see in the movies.

I found this video he does a good job of explaining how it works and why some agents might Structure them slightly the wrong way.

Find Brandon's videos on YouTube for the "four square" method of analyzing homes and practice.

Most do get away with it.  

I wanted to know if there are any good books articles or videos anyone can send my way.

I have been trying to do a little of everything - reading books in the morning before work, listening to BP podcasts and others while at work, and a few Youtube videos on my phone in between). 

@Megan Ratigan when I was first starting, I did some of the things you mentioned (I consumed a lot of REI-related content and studied up as much as I could...to this day, I continue to consume a lot of REI content like podcasts, youtube videos, the occasional book, articles, etc.).Also, I surrounded myself with people who were doing what I was trying to do (e.g.; house hacking, BRRR'ing, multifam properties, etc.), and I learned a lot from them. 

It was out of state and with as small as it was I took a gamble and did not step foot in it until i owned it, but I had the local realtor go thru and do a video and a basic eye ball inspection and felt confident.