A friend has offered to pay me to manage a house he owns in the Greater Hartford area. 

There are a ton of other options than Google voice in Canada just lookup Voip service.Some examples:RingCentralTrestaIntegration from a CRM

Someone reached out on Zillow offering to lease it for a few years, guaranteeing rent payments.

@Chris Seveney I may have misspoke, I believe they were featured as a good option for Veterans.

.- Lender familiarity issues arise as some lenders may not understand Series LLCs, thereby complicating financing.A Series LLC offers a streamlined, protective, and flexible way to manage multiple real estate investments.Thanks,

The other options are in the creative financing space, either seller financing, or sub2, these options also can provide a sustainable cash flow model, because you are getting below market terms. 

Consider markets like King's Mountain and Jacksonville, which offer the potential for appreciation and rental demand.

To start, complete your profile, set investment goals, use educational resources, network, analyze deals, seek mentorship, and focus on market research, financing options, investment strategies, and property management.

I guess I need someone to just listen and tell me I am crazy or what my options are.

There are quite a few options that you will have to start investing in real estate.