Hopefully your post will generate some good input from Chicago folks who regularly advertise and who know the latest websites that get results.Apartments.com might be a good one.

You'd have to venture out in the secondary markets to find a clean deal above the 1% rule.You may want to investigate @Ben Robertsadvice and check out Memphis.

If not, just learning from someone who has been doing this regularly  would more than enough for my first couple of projects.  

So might as well go directly to the guys who do this on a regular basis.

Is their credit report good/clean?

Since then, I've visited the site regularly.

At the end of 5 years, you can decide to change lenders, in which case you need to apply to other lenders, or your existing lender (as long as you have been making regular payments) will offer to continue your loan into a new term with the existing amortization continuing.

Does anyone know if I must (by law) give notice to my tenants to do things like mow the lawn or clean out the gutters?

There is no guarantee that the next tenants will be better or get along better.Examples:Operation, Maintenance, Storage, Alterations to Premises: On a continuing basis, tenant agrees to: Keep premises in a clean, neat, and sanitary condition; no parking, storage, or accumulation of debris on lawn or yard.Not store non-operating vehicles, nor boats, RV’s, motor cycles, trailers, firearms, equipment, tools, hazardous materials, liquids, paints, fuels/oils or chemicals on premises without landlord/agent approval; no waterbeds

The unit just needs cleaning, painting, and a few repairs.