When dealing with another private party like this, should I have the seller sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement, or would it suffice to just black out my social security number on the relevant forms?

We use email and social media to communicate but I'm wondering if anyone has any tips for managing acquisitions, rehabs, and overall business from 11 time zones away?

There's no good way to explain fraud.Also, as you're not paying FICA you're not accruing Social Security benefits. 

I will try to provide value as well for what I can though my skills don't translate to real estate well other than spending some time learning about social media marketing. 

I let the credit check check and the criminal background check do the talking (as well as the potential tenants' social media page(s)). 

@Benjamin McGuire You can purchase lists with different motivations like absentee owners, 60-90-120 days late on mortgage, pre-foreclosure, delinquent taxes, water cutoff, code violation, evictions, probate, divorce, etc. and mail or cold call.Other methods are driving for dollars, door knocking, wholesalers, craigslist, Realtors, FSBO sites, expired listings, put out bandit signs, billboards, newspapers, other offline publications.You can use pay per click/adwords, motivated seller website with SEO, facebook, Linkedin, Youtube, and other forms of online and social media marketing.If you have a big budget you can do radio, TV and billboards.

Kiernan contacted me through a mutual friend on social media. after serval attempts of trying to have me joint venture into his projects.

I have studied a lot of online courses in various subjects (psychology, marketing, advertising, Tony Robbins, Sam Ovens, etc.).

., TV commercials, radio ads, motivated seller websites, SEO, pay per click/adwords, facebook, Linkedin, Youtube, and other forms of online advertising and boosted/promoted social media postings.Bottom line is integrity and consistency.

When possible will try to text, email, find them on social media, etc. to see if we can make contact.