So when compared to a company like Evolve I will have local knowledge, insights and culture.

Close to the mountains, 300 days of sun, good culture, and a great food scene.Just commenting on one aspect of your post.

The duplex was a total loss, but everyone got out safely.I'm not digging at anyone in particular here, it is just a fact that it might be very important to ask more questions and provide more general directions with a walk-through when working with someone from a different culture, particularly in a crisis type situation such as many different refugees find themselves in.

You have to take the reins of your career and go after it on your own.The attitude and culture of your chosen brokerage could make or break you. 

Going unannounced will give you a feel on how receptive the office and what their culture is like.

And doing things as a family is a lost art in much of our culture. 

Quote from @Matthew Irish-Jones: You can sell it with him in it, but it’s going to have a significant impact on the sale price.

There may be citizenship requirements, how agents get paid can vary, and it would be important to really know the culture, the laws, and the specific communities before jumping in.I'm sorry I can't be of more help.

I commissioned over a dozen in LA, and now I'm trying to bring it to Uptown Charlotte, with respect to all the local culture and using local artists.I'm getting a surprisingly welcome response so far, have commissioned one temporary mural on the windows of the old Carolina Theater, and have a couple more in the works.It's a fun departure from renovation design (though that's still my first love), and might help change the stodgy, buttoned-down, uber-unhip-yuppie-banker-esque rep of Uptown. 

Great areas of growth to look into are: The Cultural District/ West 7th as well Magnolia which is slowly turning but much more long term play more buy and hold strategy unless you have a lot of capital to play with.