If all fails, please consider reaching out to those representing the seller online and see what company/individual is currently managing the units prior to the sales transaction.... this could give you some great insight. 

From what I can find online, whether or not the lender will allow us to count future rent from the other units toward the loan amount depends on the specific lender.Question: anyone have advice on getting pre-approved with a lender that will be more likely consider future rent payments toward the loan amount (ie the loan amount will be greater than just our w2 jobs would provide)?

You can consider money market funds or online banks like ally bank where they currently have a 0.50% APY for their savings account.

Someone recently recommended an online course on strprofitacademy.com.

We will have to make coffee happen sometime, online is great but I love meeting in person!

You can easily see their eviction records and most criminal activities through FREE online resources just google it and you will find it for your state. 

Don't be cheap and look for free crappy docs online.

I have changed the deadbolts to QwikLock SmartKey with the option to enter a numerical code, use an online platform for all leases, tenant credit checks, maintenance requests, rent and deposit payment, etc., will set up a virtual open house time frame to have tenants FaceTime/Zoom with me to do the walkthrough.

The biggest sticking point for me is that their online application portal isn’t the most user friendly and with various investments I have to enter in about 20 accounts into it with it glitching and going back to start and not saving things.

They have an online portal, so you could have paid the bill there.