Vacancies are a standard part of this business and shouldn't be discounted off of a price.  

Shortly after visiting the site, I discovered the podcast and I’ve fallen in love with listening to the guys on my drive(s) to/from work (literally started from episode one and slowly creeping up on 100) and have also graduated to purchasing & reading books from “Beardy Brandon” and Josh Dorkin (UBG, Book on Rental Property Investing, Tax Strategies for the Savvy REI + sprinkled in a little Kiyosaki).Anyhow, as part of my journey as an investment property owner in the Charlotte, NC market, I am now looking to grow my team. 

If you want to save up 20% to get a standard mortgage then do that. 

They didn't discover an opinion on the stage of the market cycle from their call with you so why are they bothering to go ahead?

This is fairly standard.

For example, TenantCloud.Direct deposit is a standard feature now. 

Regardless if the contract is a standard Realtor contract or a builder specific contract, there are usually a few clauses in the contract outlining scenarios when the earnest funds can be returned. 

I found the legal wording to use by asking around within my brokerage, but there's no standard form through the Realtors Association for it so many Realtors don't know to ask their broker or have an attorney draft one.

Our standards for qualifying to rent a unit are simple and fair.

One major item that comes to mind (from seeing others NOT do this) is to set your standards for screening tenants and stick to them 100% no matter what.