Spend a load of time on cregslist looking for similar properties in like locations, that are all rehabbed and see what they rent for... $50 a month would cover the cost of carpet and paint rather quickly. 

The few properties that have seemed promising to me have sold so quickly and at such ridiculous prices that I wonder if I should even be spending my time in MF right now.

In general you make more by spending more.  

But best thing truly is to spend all waking hours you can on realtor.com or somewhere looking for stuff and have agents searching for you. 

Right now it seems you need to continue to try and spend more time with you're old real estate friends, read more books,  and listen to more podcasts.  

Evictions are not extremely expensive, and the outcome will be worth more than what you spend on it.

I think the first step should be to make your personal financial statements (balance sheet and income statement), this will not only be useful should the loan officer ask for it, but will also give you an idea of where your money is going and where you can cut back on your spending.  

Spend some time reading about the various aspects of investment property.

I could not believe any more strongly with the BP log in page saying we were not meant to spend all of our time in cubicles and I aim to change that for myself. 

Also, I would be worried about them spending 75.00 a month in odds and ends repair, it seems like they just didn't fix anything.