For this reason, it wouldnt make sense to rack up all the fees for title, escrow, lender fees, etc to do an investment cashout when you likely could get a personal loan at a similar interest rate, but only pay 300-500$ in document fees vice paying the 5-8K fees you'd likely rack up between the lender and title company with the refi. 

I have heard of keeping the 2 documents seperated, thank you for confirming that for me.

Contact the title insurance company directly and provide them with all relevant documentation, including the closing statement, tax payment certificate, and any correspondence from the county regarding the back taxes.

It costs $100 for a lease and several other documents written by investors and an attorney-approved for your state.

You can look into the BiggerPockets-affiliated software for landlords here in the Tools section.Another option could be a local Realtor who either works a ton of rentals or does a lot of business in North Austin.The software route may still require involvement on your end i.e. setup, communication, document review, etc. 

What documents do they require, what credit scores do they allow, how do they verify previous rental history, etc.?

In early march I submitted all the documents they needed from me expecting some follow-up.

Mail a copy of the documents to the new owner and if you feel that strongly, contact the realtor and let them know.

My layman's understanding is that the date of recording a deed (or any other document) is not the date when it is considered effective.

Make sure you are staying in touch with your lender and respond promptly to any requests for documents.