I want to buy more, but I can't seem to find the deals in the particular zip codes i consider my target investment areas.

If you need to comply with any code requirements, make repairs or take care of any legal issues, a lease isn't the best way to go, thoses issues need to be addressed by owners, this guy is out of town.Could do a L/O, there is also straight seller financing, sub-2, wraps, contract for deeds that will give you much more control over the property.

I have my VA compile the list of owners based on the zip codes I'm looking for.

It is like a dress code in a resturant.

I would not recommend giving tenants a copy of L-T law... ours is 60 pages of RCWs (Revised Code of Washington). 

They told me that the Code Enforcement Officer was not allowed to carry a gun, the thing about this, the neighbors even committed on it.  

It isn't your competition.... trust me.City of Ocala and Marion County Code Enforcement Officers take down your signs the first time they see them.If you put them back up... they start fining you.

Are there a lot of code violations on these properties?

When I heard of the Banker's Code, I was all about finding an easier path.George Antone and Gary Boomershine were promoting the Banker's Code via signing up for a personal phone consultation with them, I was supposed to have a 1 hour session with one of them personally.

I am targeting just 2 zip codes and will keep tweaking until IO get some results.