Every industry has its bad apples, in RE, we have wholesalers who do something that could be just fine, but they mess it up.

If you are willing to use last 3 months, you are overpaying, because it should be trailing 12 at least, and it should definitely be the same time period as the one you use for expenses or it is an apples to oranges comparison.

The hard part is comparing apples to apples.

It is very easy to compare apples to apples, but there are no two houses alike, and any appraiser who cannot figure out how to appraise different recently-sold properties is not an appraiser you should be dealing with.Since no two houses are exactly alike, you cannot easily compare them at face value.

LEDs, like fluorescent, require an electronic dimmer to operate instead of the traditional magnetic.

But I am an empty nester with a working partner, not a sole provider with toddlers, so not only is it not apples and oranges, it's barely a comparison between any food groups at all.I like what others have suggested of getting another job and using the salary from the old job to invest while living off the new salary.  

For an apples-to-apples with the larger securities markets a 4% SWR is probably too low, but 11 - 12% sounds high.  

You always want to be sure you are comparing apples to apples. 

Make sure you compare apples to apples and get a good faith estimate regarding closing costs.On my last loan, one lender had 1/8 point lower rate, but almost $3,000 more in closing costs.

Pay attention to finishes, lot sizes, house sizes, appliances, etc. so that you are comparing apples to apples.