It's going to very greatly based on your exact goals.I recommend starting off by reading The Book on Rental Property Investing by @Brandon Turner.

This is my preferred method based on the judicial system being far too slow.

I'm still deciding what to do about them, but these floors are fir, not hardwood, the paint is likely lead-based, and the painted floor (in the bedrooms) fits the house's style.  

I keep a pretty close eye on rentals that come on the market close to mine and base my decision more on where I am relative to other properties than a general % increase.  

There are two to three markets I am interested in that I have some small relationships within that I could utilize, my hometown, my wife's hometown or a place I visit often for work.My questions concern the opportunity cost of learning the ins and outs of 3 different markets when the requirements of truly knowing the market increase the chances of success.Do I select one based on distance, the potential to cash flow or appreciate, or one that I may have more connections in?

I want to offer qualified individuals with the right mindset and knowledge base the opportunity to join my team and I will pay for you to get your license.  

It depends on the area and what they are managing but usually its anywhere from 70 to 100 percent of the first months and 7-10% based on the area and whats being managed.  

SEC 8 sets the tenant's budget based on the income they report.

I'd say to start with an informal, small gathering, see what the participants are interested in, and then plan the next one based off of their feedback.

Try an asset based lender for a short-ish term (3 years usually).rate will be higher, but it'll be an easy loan to get with almost no underwriting.