No need to pay big bucks for this. 

I understand I'd take a pay cut being an agent for the first few years, but in exchange, I'd be learning about the market and building a network as I move towards Commercial multifamily.

Well that is when the lower tenant feels like paying her 20% portion of the rent of $240 per month lol!

This would likely take coordination with a tenant at some point - (ie - plenty of notice to them that they must vacate in order for you to sell the property)Since your current home is free and clear -  you could do a cash out refi or take out a new mortgage on the new house to be able to buy your paren't house and pay off the mortgage.  

Or just pay your sister a finders fee for getting the deal?

On the other hand, I’m hesitant to simply pay down more of a property, as we don’t need the immediate cash flow.Fortunately, both my wife’s job and mine are recession-proof, which allows us to be a bit more aggressive with our investments.I’d really appreciate advice from investors who have experience with frequent moves or military service.

If you hire someone typically they are the ones providing this information, but if someone is paying you, then yes they need this information for tax purposes.BTW - I would say your SS# has been hacked so many times and is on the black market already this is why we monitor ours through other parties or just lock it down at experian and other agencies if you are concerned about it.

I was told by a local experienced investor that insurance companies will always go cheap with paying out to contractors in the event a property needs to be rebuilt. 

One lesson I’ve learned so far is that patience and thorough due diligence always pay off, whether it’s with property acquisitions or selecting the right team to work with.I’d love to hear more about your journey and what areas of real estate you’re looking to focus on.

For a 30 year Conventional loan, I'm at 6.5% rate (6.808% APR) for a duplex, 95% LTV, 780+ FICO, owner occupant.And I'm assuming they're paying $2k of your closing costs - not your down payment.