I know you can get better returns on your own, but having these training wheels as a resource to help guide me through the process was really reassuring. 

Is there anything I can do now aside from online education and saving money to set me up for my return home to Tucson AZ next May?

What I haven't figured out how to do is get it to return a search query to give me an easy list to look at of what days I've visited them which I think would be immensely helpful.

I am slowly putting away cash, and my tax returns always go into the bank/pay off debt. 

If it gets to that point, you want to see three years of tax returns and then begin your own due diligence process.

This is because the VA loan has extra requirements for appraisal (BLUF: they must be safe, structurally sound, and sanitary — no big fixer uppers).The real value in the loan is being to put no money into the deal up front giving you a greater CoC return for the right deal.

@Mendel DeitschAs you pointed out cap rate is a metric to measure some kind of return (ROI).

In return for her agreement to break the lease, I was wondering what you think is fair?

This practice is not for all property owners, but when done correctly can net both owner and operator a healthy return.

Kitchen/Bath - I've heard many realtors talk about this and claim a seller would *always* get a nice return on a either.