And although I'm grateful to have found another lender to get it done, it cost me more money in points, a higher interest rate because of the current rate was higher than previous, and I had to buy another appraisal for $750.The response I received from one of the founders of the company states: "We are not able to refund any amounts at this time as the time of quality control has passed....

That is in the contract as a deterrent to prevent an owner from using our services to find a high-quality resident and then moving the management, thereby hurting our reputation with the residential community. 

Any specific suggestions on how to tone down on a budget but still be effective?   

Where you fall in that range will be dictated by bedroom count per unit and the quality of the area/building itself.

I want to know is it more cost effective or easier to purchase the property alone and put it in a mortgage in our name or purchase the LLC from him that holds the property within it.

To leverage the equity for financing my next deal, a second mortgage seems like a more cost-effective option.

Do you believe it will now be more cost effective to hold a license or do you believe the expenses will go up with what I assume will be a flight from the business by low producing real estate agents? 

You do this buy buying a quality asset in a good enough location.

Hi BP community!  I currently House Hack in Everett, WA (near Seattle) and utilize FurnishedFinder for our basement ADU with great success. I have built up enough equity and savings and will start adding multiple rent...

Waste of time, huge room for error and zero reason for a customer to do this.....any Contractor worth his salt will have better pricing/quality/selection on the big stuff and will have guys on his crew that can do those dreaded 'parts runs' for the little stuff.