Even if the property is not currently on the market, it will show you a lot of info that I personally find important.

Savings is now non-existent.

I am thinking Des Moines may be a good place for me to start for some personal and professional reasons.

Assuming you are able to save this cash what is going to change in the next 2-3 months of not making payments that is going to put yourself in a much better financial state. 

As a person who has purchased hundreds of mortgage notes (non-performing and performing) and done many seller finance deals let me tell you if this was the case wouldn't all banks require the buyer (their borrower) to get such a deed so that if their borrowers do not pay then they don't have to go through foreclosure.  

I was hoping I could you use a personal EIN instead of my SSN. 

When people make a lot, they also tend to risk a lot.for the average person, 1 home every year for 10 years is a doable and strategy that can get you there - slow and steady but faster than the average person. 

Talk with a tax person.  

I'll personally benefit if it is for the current year (anticipated increase in income), or is the benefit to be realized only for the actual year it was placed in service?

You won’t be doing any background check on anybody living in your property, that’s for the person screwing you to do.