Our plan is to initially rent the unit to our daughter, who is highly allergic to cats.My concern is - can I cost effectively remove all traces of the cat, so that she can stay comfortably?

Admittedly, i could get more involved in the initial screening with some of the questions (i invest out of state so thats going to be difficult), though i am starting to wonder what a PM is for then. 

Do a "hold open" on the initial title policy (which is normally paid by the seller) and then have the title company re-issue it. 

I understand this is not the most idea route to take in entering the real estate world, but my initial strategy is to focus on turnkey/recent rehabbed and tenanted properties located in regions within my price range.

The most I'd invest initially is quality time in reading and listening, and use the Vistaprint deal  that's, like, $10 to make 250 cards to just make a business card with your name, title (wholeseller) and contact info.    

Do it like this:1 - Wholesale to get your initial cash to buy/rehab your 1st deal2 - Analyze then Buy/Rehab 1st deal3 - Put tenant in place, cash flow starts4 - Refinance your initial cash back out (buy/rehab money).Note:  This is where it is important to know how to analyze, and have your analysis show that the property when refi'd will be able to recover all (or most) of the funds used to buy/rehab that deal.5 - Property still cash flows6 - Re-use those same funds on the next buy/rehab deal7 - Repeat steps #2 - 6 until you can't get any more loans8 - Find a "credit partner" that can refinance the next set of deals.9 - Repeat steps #2 - 6 with your Credit Partner (you will be using that same initial cash here too)10 - Split the cash flow with your credit partner11 - When that credit Partner can't get any more loans, find another and...12 -  Repeat steps #2 - 6 with your new Credit Partner (you will be using that same initial cash here too)13 - Repeat these steps until, well until you get tired of doing it.14 - When you refinance the last property, and take all the cash back out, just keep it.One of the many great things about this system is, in the end, you never actually spend the money...you are just using it...over and over again.  

@Annette Hibbler  Aside from the initial Owner Occupant period there are no preferences at all. 

, but in the meanwhile had started working on the place after the initial 2 week period, thinking the county was just slow.

I intend to initially begin building my business by flipping reasonably priced houses, with an end goal of building a solid rental property portfolio.

, but in the meanwhile had started working on the place after the initial 2 week period, thinking the county was just slow.