when you click on one of the tabs  for account manager and another person it just goes to a random linkdin page.. strange..  

A great single resource is J Scott's books on flipping houses which really breaks things down well so you can understand the overall basics.

Lot of singles and doubles though.

I am happy to learn that a brand new property is able to pass a Section 8 inspection without a single repair. 

They all do really solid accounting.  

What would you call every single “highest and best” offer situation on the MLS other than an auction?

Ask them when they issue distributions (anything before the 15th of the month is a red flag), do they require reserves, how is maintenance charged, do you see copies of outside contractor bills, do they upcharge materials (PM's have LAR accounts with Lowes and often get 20% off), do they keep all late fees or just the management fee, what other fees do they charge (renewals, inspections, etc), where are tenant security deposits held, how are evictions handled and are you consulted before filing, what screenings do they run, what qualifications do they require from tenants, ask for a couple other owners to visit with for a reference. 

However, as others have mentioned, that might not made sense for you if you're planning to just purchase a single SFR or start flipping.

Because investing in real estate in general seems to offer more of an advantage than just stockpiling extra money from our W2 job into a high yield savings account. 

I am currently in the process of two single-family builds in Florida and would love to answer any questions or just talk shop whenever.Keep an eye on the trending articles because we pretty much all have the same questions and this community is great about giving well-thought-out and relevant responses.