Those folks run a sophisticated operation, and if we don't keep up with their level of sophistication (and exceed their customer service) we would lose business to other investment classes that treat their investors better.Perhaps it could be said that the competitor to TK firms is buying homes directly, and that competition lacks sophistication--thus the hurdle is just above that level and anything above that is good enough. 

This will be your biggest hurdle - but you are only in Austin so driving up for a potential property under contract isn't impossible either. 

Any AP plan would be tiered and create multiple hurdles.

My biggest hurdle now is the insurance. 

Prefer lower fees and few hurdles.  

Then you pick up your checkI will make another post on this back end process, including all the hurdles and mistakes we have made so far.

There will be different hurdles with every deal but experience will make the hurdles seem smaller.

I reach out to a lender, submit the application (or verbally relay my information over the phone to avoid another hard inquiry), and when I ask for an estimate of rates, they disappear or take an unreasonable amount of time to respond and follow up is non existent. 

@Benjamin Pifer If this is advertised on MLS or elsewhere, I would think this would have to be clearly disclosed as an additional fee to the buyer.If not, it could be an advertising or consumer protection violation, depending on how VA law is written.That said, the amount doesn't seem at all unreasonable. 

I do believe that's on the high end, and my agent has experience with other rental investors and she says that not an unreasonable rent rate- as long as I get the house looking good!