I had to spend a few days backlogging two months' worth of data, that's until I set up the automated rules.

That's not a show stopper since you'll never go broke paying tax on profit.But the ability to use all of that big tax bill to benefit yourself throughout the rest of your life and then pass it along to your heirs tax free is seriously worth considering. 

Comps seem to show that place is not worth the nearly 400k they are asking.

take into consideration I am getting a decent deal, and this property could Easily be worth a 100+ a sq ft within 5 yearsproperty pictures belowhttps://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1072-Fm-126-Merkel-TX-79536/62562011_zpid/

Finding an agent that knows the market and can find you properties that provide a profit (for both of you) is worth the effort.One more thing about the contract . . . be sure to read the ENTIRE document and ask for clarification is needed. 

So a PM can’t charge $50/mo and stay in business, and you can get your money’s worth at $320/mo. 

The profit made all the challenges worth it and reaffirmed my passion for flipping houses.

Maybe seller financing.But let me ask this question, what happens if in the third month the furnace goes and needs $2000 worth of repairs?

The license (if you aren't going to use it to sell) is worth it for access to the MLS and access to dumps the first day they on the market.

UPS box is more expensive, but can do more things such as used as a business entity's main address on record.