Welcome to BiggerPockets - and thanks for starting this thread with such a good and well-grounded question.I think that you will find that the State's filing fees are about $450 for your LLC - but, that you may also need a business license (yep, more bucks, perhaps $200) to actually do business in your local jurisdiction.  

Pros - the HOA takes care of exterior and grounds maintenance.

I have boots on the ground in Bristol, and work often in the Hebron area.  

I want as much of the fundamental systems in place NOW so that I can hit the ground running and move through my first deal without skipping a beat.Any advice from people who remember the systems they had in place first when they started is greatly appreciated.

But what I would like to know from you folks is after all this is said and done  - do I have any ground to file a complaint with the California Board of Realtors for this agent not responding to an offer good and valid offer?

The precise remedies available will depend on your lease and the contract law governing it.Since you are remote, you will need to find a property manager or someone local to be your boots on the ground through the drama which may ensue. 

Just document everything so if you need to evict, you can do it on grounds that he is damaging your property.

FHA is a great program, and most sellers are not going to be phased by it.  

That is Brandon Turner's stomping grounds.

I just started farming in that area, and my boots on the ground also works in a bank.