With existing tenants, you DO KNOW THEM!

Your tenants cover most or all of your mortgage.

Studies typically cost $3,000–$5,000 but affordable DIY options (around $400–$500) exist for simpler properties.

Does size of mortgage paydown become a factor here?

If they don't pay your judgement you file it as a lien at the courthouse and they won't be able to get a mortgage to buy their home until that judgement is paid because that lien would apply to any house they buy and be in 1st lien position BEFORE the mortgage.

.- If interest rates remain high, this is further upward pressure on rents in the near-term, as the alternative to renting - buying a home with a mortgage, is expensive - this should increase demand for rentals. - Rents are also a function of supply - 2024 saw the most new construction of multifamily units in American history (nearly 575,000 estimated 2024 deliveries of new multifamily inventory), and 2025, while not a record setting year, will see deliveries top 500,000 again - a huge supply increase. 

For example we invest in mortgage notes so we have an AI agent that only scans the documents we have and lists and if we asked a question like "who are our top rates attorneys in texas", it will give me the results vs. having to search files.

I do not believe it matters if you start with mortgage broker or RE agent.  

This way your tenants essentially pay your mortgage while you're deployed.

As noted, commission are always negotiable as are brokerage options (full service to discount companies that pretty much just post it on the MLS and you work with all calls, offers, etc) and an agent can go over likely net out scenarios with you and give you an idea what you likely will be able to net after closing expenses and paying off the mortgage balance.