We also need to have a strong team in place or boots on the ground.

This allows you to make your sellers feel as though they are in an exclusive group of home owners that have the best homes on the block. often times you can lead with a very simple and honest, "I would like to add your home to the package of carefully selected properties to be sold to cash buyers, there's nothing you would need to commit to even if someone made an offer to buy it."

My girlfriend (hopefully fiance soon) and and I are expecting our first (boy, thank god) in a few weeks, and I wanted to get started sooner rather than later and commit to my first investment.

Your resident manager is either a blessing or a total curse in this scenario...............if he/she is inherited you might just arbitrarily have to put someone new in that spot-the temptation is pretty strong from how I imagine rents are being collected and reported. 

This confirms that it would be acceptable as long as the 50% test is satisfied on the following dates: (i) the “initial valuation date” or the first date on which the corporation makes an investment that is not a short-term investment of funds pending long-term commitment; and (ii) at least one day during each annual valuation period.

Paying a proficient short sale negotiator is worth it's weight in gold to increase the chances of a short sale being completed efficiently and in keeping a strong line of communication with all parties.

One aspect I’m having difficulty with is identifying a strong property management company in the area and I was hoping someone with active properties in the area could make a referral.

Financially, I am fairly stable with strong credit (730+), and working a entry level tech recruiting job allowing me to save roughly a quarter of my salary after bills, entertainment, and etc.

You might get a few bruises along  the way but stay strong and in control.

All I'm gonna say about that is that given how strong our current real estate cycle is this time around, it is the perfect, rare opportunity to sell any properties that fit the Roofstock or HomeUnion profile.