Please advise or link to any sources/pages that you think might be important for me to look into along this long and exciting new journey that I will embark upon.

(source: nolo.com)Hope this helps...

Thanks for the precise numbers and conclusion with sources cited.

I have been cold calling as my main source but want to try and get some leads coming to me.

I understand the concept of having your contractor go in and getting an itemized scope of work, estimate materials and labor, but by the time this is done, one of you other OOS investors already swooped in and took the deal ;)   As we all know...a good deal will go quick, so I think the skill of being able to quickly estimating these rehab numbers when analyzing a "good" deal,  especially being out of state, is absolutely critical. 

Foundations of a home are the most critical.

I would hope the next contractor can use those but whose insurance is now covering those materials sitting on my property as I am sourcing a new contractor?

Before entering this heavily competitive space, I am in search of advise from anyone willing to expose what they may have done different starting out, or what processes have proven to be a productive source of business.

HELOC on investment (non owner occupied) properties are provided by few sources.  

If that doesn't hit the 2% number then you need to look for better deals (off market) that your source yourself, or you need to find a better market.