Locate and attend 3 different local REIA club meetings, REI Clubs, or social networking meetups these are great places to meet people like you to gather resources and info.  

I would never accept a tenant on the promise that they will "quit" smoking without considerable skin in the game.

Yes, but backlinks from Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms are almost always "no-follow".

If I fix a toilet, I want the economic benefit of the work, so your buy numbers should be in line with market rates.Never buy based on income alone, you're buying improvements that have an economic life, maintenance and improvement factors, social and demographic factors.

You might bump into some money guys there, know they aren't "private lenders" they are hard money lenders fishing in the waters.You'll also find leaches there, (not a derogatory term) it's very acceptable practice in RE for an experienced person to team up with inexperienced players to get a deal done, these experienced types just leach onto newbies and work deals, there are some who do nothing but leach deals providing themselves with more opportunities with less effort.

do what all normal people do - teach him a lesson by posting evidence of his slum lording on social media. that will teach him! 

I only accept direct deposit, pay online or pay through pay pal.

I am wondering how they stay in business.In the end:  SmartMoves recommended that I 'ACCEPT'.  

But in a situation where an offer has been accepted on a property is it necessary to interview the property inspector and mortgage broker in person?

Either they will accept your offer, which means you get a good deal, or you will find out why it has been onbthe market so long.