Also, @Brandon Sturgill, there exists a VA program called Veteran's Housing and Employment Assistance or VHEA - Google it.If you're on Facebook, search for Christopher LaFayelle.

Generate a list of non-owner occupied and absentee owners within a 10 mile radius of the zip code I am looking to invest in using ListSource.com.2.)

When you start to work with people, you need to be very careful about the employment laws in your area. 

I look for areas with increasing population, more than one stable employment base, look at the census demographics and see if who lives there fits with who you want to be landlord to...also, things like "best place to live, best place to retire, best ...." are a good start.  

What kind of investing strategy are you looking to employ?

This year, for the first time, my wife is self-employed.  

I recently inherited a house worth about 100K; I'll have it rented soon.I'm self employed with good credit but a low net income.Would HMLs be likely to give me a line of credit on the property up to about 75K for doing small fix and flips?

I'm going to try to contact the owner at their place of employment.

I am 44 years old and a self employed computer consultant.

The 10% is important, and lease options seem to have a bit of a bad smell about them these days....Am looking to generate cash flow as well, without the hassles of landlording (have been burnt there before!)