I understand that the potential to make little to no money is the "norm" for the first year or so, I am okay with that prospective and would much rather gain knowledge and allow someone to give me an opportunity to prove my abilities.

The hope is that will help you decrease expenses and/or gain income.Always remember to do the math analysis and try to look at prospective properties or have a contingency clause in the purchase contract that allows you some upfront time (about 10 days) to make a detailed inspection and possibly back out of the deal without a penalty that hurts you too much.  

Past experience of the customer with the BankEmphasis mine. 

A strong fence makes for good neighbors:The prospect of renting to friends and family is something that comes up from time to time.

Also customer service and a liitle bit in sales.

Sit there (or have someone) in the morning to check the customers?

So if you listed it last year for $1000 and now want to re-rent for $1200 prospective tenants looking at your listing can see that you raised rents by $200.BTW, you can also do this same thing on houses that were previously listed but taken off the market, it keeps the data there, you cant search by resently rented but you can just click on arbitrary houses until you find one that was previously rented by seeing it under price history.

I spoke to the prospective tenant's current landlord. 

I was told I needed a loan originator to qualify the prospective buyer for a loan even though my LLC owns the house free and clear.

Do not forget to do the math analysis and try to look at your prospective properties before you make an offer or at least use a contingency clause in the purchase contract that gives you some time (about 10 days) to make an upfront detailed inspection and possibly back out of the deal without a penalty that will hurt you too much.Follow up is crucial with potential customers as well as existing ones.