Are there any walk through tutorials or anything of the sort that can help guide a newbie to the calculators.

Yes  get the basics as i have every receipt for anything ever purchased for this property from paint flooring. etc neatly sorted by year and month both physical and in cloud storage.

My question is this: upon my request is he required to give me some sort of statement of compliance or other accounting of payments?

You may not find that person the conventional way - you may have to get very creative.I am 78 y/o and have done many renovations, commercial and houses, I am very careful whom I select and how I negotiate with them.

What sort of product / lender should I look for here? 

Don't leave that sort of thing up to the tenant, a mistake is too costly.

In your apartment application:- Include a tenant selection criteria rubric.- Have applicant initial off on a copy and submit with the application.- Don't include any questions about criminal backgroundAfter processing the application, send out a credit approval/rejection letter.If approved, you may then obtain written consent to perform a background check. - If background check passes, send an approval letter.- If background check doesn't pass, send a 'right to dispute letter'

Anyway I asked him about lending for investors, as at one time I have heard they do that sort of thing.

As your selected neighborhood starts to grow and you see homes selling to end buyers, you will want to consider your exit in the 3-5 year term to ensure that you ride the value you have created when you sell of refi again.  

(There are several closets in the basement that can additionally be used for storage already)I am sure there are some liability issues and I would need to make all tenants sign a release of some sort.