I told her that I need proof of liquid funds sufficient to cover 25% of the purchase price and to provide proof of that.  

Contact the utility provider and get a historical average based on the last year of use.

If it is someone you know you can give them a straight return as if its a loan - can provide a lower interest rate to provide upside - it really depends on the lender and what are they concerned with and what is their risk profile. 

And there are lots of conventional loan programs where you can put down <20%If it were me, and I was committed to purchasing, I would try and land an off market property needing a bunch of work and force appreciation that way.

A buyer agreement is the legal document that provides the agent with the assurance that he/she will get paid if they work with you to complete a real estate transaction. 

That is a common arrangement as well, that can be done after the loan has closed, too. 

so you're recommending that my starting point should be finding a real estate agent, utilize theirbknowledge to learn about the process, and get referrals for good loan officers.

The reality is the opposite - if it's not in writing then the PMC doesn't have to provide the service or can charge extra for it!

The sale of our home will provide us with approximately $150,000 to allocate toward investments.At this stage, we feel most comfortable focusing on long-term rentals.

Hey Marcus welcome to the community, I work in the Kansas City area and could provide some value to your investing journey.