We will buy it as-is and close quickly but before I can speak to them I would like to agree on the price and if you would be willing to give me an option to buy it at that price within the next 10 days (or 20, 30 days).An option contract gives you the right to buy an asset (house) but not the obligation to buy it until you exercise your option.

It was a good exercise, but you don't want to waste that much time on every property you identify. 

A properly set-up DST will both protect your assets and bypass the burdensome franchise tax that would be levied against a Series LLC.The Delaware Act expressly provides that “[n]o creditor of the beneficial owner shall have any right to obtain possession of, or otherwise exercise legal or equitable remedies with respect to, the property of the statutory trust.” 12 Del.

With the non-judicial is that just the lien-holder(s) exercising their right to call the note due without any legal process?

Hopefully some Omaha locals will chime in.If you don't mind a remote relationship, there are quite a few professionals who regularly post on this subforum. 

Do the rentals affect the taxes I pay on my regular income?

The best thing you can do really is get in touch with real investors (investors that actually invest regularly) and then you put them in groups.Which of them have purchased single families, and in what towns and for how much.The second group are the investors that purchased multi families, again in which towns and for how much.If a single investor buys in both groups, buy him a Shirley temple, rub his back and call him every night to tell him "I love you and I miss you good night butterbutt".So based on the neighborhoods that are most purchased inm there is where you want to get contracts signed, and thus there is where you want to ..

I am looking for a partner/team so we could work together, hold each other accountable for our goals and meet on a regular basis to keep track of our progress. 

This exercise will help you clarify your goals.   

If you can't find one, I would take a regular lease and tweak it to your requirements.Also google Master lease example or template.