I have a couple of friends in the military and it is true that when they are deployed that their domestic cell phones usually do not work. 

Keep a journal listing the price per SF of each, all financial information, the date inspected and comments from agents or sellers. 

Keep in mind that you are looking to buy EQUITY, sure a house comes with it, but EQUITY is where you will grow your business.Keep a journal of detailed information on each property you look at, comments from the agent, a copy of the listing, pictures and comments of the owner.

@Rahdia GreenIm sure there is a more efficient way but real quickly here's an example:I assume cell A1 looks like this: Green, Rahdia. 

can I get away with just my cell phone starting out or is a business #/fax line necessary to start out?

The Wall Street Journal Complete Real Estate Investing Guidebook.  

Is it best to contact absentee owners who are out of state through direct mail or cell them? 

I have about 60K in school loans, I bought a new car in January with car payments, and I have all the regular bills as does anyone else like cell phone bill, car insurance, cable/internet bill...that kind of stuff..and I live at home with my parents.So I have been really really looking into real estate the past couple of months.

All free ones offered at your local library.Beyond that, the unofficial guide to real estate investing, the Keller guy from Keller Williams books, the wall street journal guide to RE investing (it's called something like that).

Just like cell phone companies, they will be super nice to a potential and/or new clients.