For example, will a house sell/rent more quickly if it has a tour? 

Thanks John,I appreciate your quick response I will reach out to lenders to see about tapping into that equity.

Home is located in the best school district in Louisiana and would go quick, whether I sell or rent. 

So, I'm very interested in prospect of using a portion of my net worth to invest in real estate now before this opportunity is lost (i.e. from not being able to get a mortgage, or at least as good of one, post-quitting)*.So, I'm looking to try to acquire my first rental property during the week of 7/3-7/10 - which is when I'll be in the area I'm looking to invest in, and be living long-term starting in August (aside from traveling 90% of the year).I've watched a handful of YT videos and read some blogs on real estate investing in the last day, but I'm looking for any quick advice that might make a big difference.

I would encourage you to educate yourself.

A quick Craigslist search for housing shows a 1br at $1000, a 2br at $1500, and a 3br at $1600.

So I'm surprised by the minimalist bookkeeping.Thanks @Linda Weygant....I had the same thought about the IRS: I bet if they were audited they'd come up with some figures pretty quick!

They are a low cost of entry so I don't see much harm in putting 3 or 4 on your property and seeing how quickly you rent them out.

As @Andrew Beauchemin mentioned in his post, the availability of that information will definitely make things move more quickly.

A quick google will get you what qualifies you as an RE professional.