Scott's book and some other online resources would be brought up so let me mention that I've already read all of those during the past 6 months of my education phase. 

Richmond VaI am thinking about hiring a property manager to collect the rent, and pay the HOA fees while depositing the remainder in a bank account for my mom and I to access.My working budget is $300k and I am looking to get a minimum of $1.5k-$2k per month in rents.Insights welcome

They're a great resource for the industry.

Are there resources on BP for me to dive into to learn?

Just make sure you collect the lease agreements and/or decide what you're going to do with them.

Once in a self-directed you can purchase an investment property inside your IRA and your IRA will collect deferred income. 

what resources can be used to find home owners who are upside down on mortgage payments, recent divorces, pre foreclosures, basically a pool of motivated sellers to market too. 

It seems every potential tenant has at least a few accounts in collections.

Lastly, and more complicated, would be to go build yourself a webpage, and start collecting names and email addresses, so that you can send out your deals via email to those buyers. 

If your managing your own properties that you have a clear ownership interest in .. no licesne requiredif your managing properties for your clients IE collecting rent.. negoatiating leases etc.. then yes you need a brokers license with a PM component.. and you would have to work for a broker for 2 years then sit for your principal broker exam pass that and the property manager component..does not matter resi or commercial.. reason is your handling lots of money for investors and or negotiating contracts state wants those folks to be licensed and accountable.