Be careful looking at comps, addresses can be misleading unless you're intimately familiar.  4th st is a good example, there are some great bars and restaurants near the intersection of Congress/Ferry and 4th, but half a block south starts to get sketchy, and even sketchier the further you go south.  

I know one investor who stages all of his houses.You can decide to go the full route and have a professional stage your house (the more you spend the nicer it should look) or you can try it yourself with just a few things.

Please make sure you haven our door I knockong route mapped out and make sure you tell someone where your going b cause some of these people won't be happy to see you and hear that you know their problems but some would feel relieved if you can help them

When giving deposit slips to tenants, is there any danger in them having both our routing number and checking account number?  

Have not utilized this route before but greatly considering it.

  @Thomas S hit the nail on the head, if cash flow is your goal you're much better off going the route of multi-family properties.

I listen to them on long car rides or bus routes to and from class.

Obviously, I need to shop around a bit more if I end up going that route.

You want to talk with them and see how you can join their team to learn the ropes.I have been investing out of state for a decade now and I can tell you that it'll save you a lot of time and money going that route. 

That's the route I was leaning toward.