My business habits kicked in so I asked if it was was a good time to talk.

Secondly, we are having a hard time getting a good quote on doing the work required to make the apartment habitable.

They got that way through their daily habits and commitment to greatness.I posted up a list a few months back on our blog (link below in signature) of my Top Ten Self Development Books for a Real Estate Mindset.post up your list of books and CD's that you use to help maintain and improve your real estate mindset.

I have a habit of choking when I ask questions about the house.

OCCUPANCY: Tenant/Buyer [ ] shall, [ ] shall not, have the right to occupancy before the property is repaired and habitable according to local housing and building codes.3.

I choose to buy and hold, had a solid RE investment knowledge, and good personal finance habits prior to separating so the transition was not a big deal at all.

I'll be renting initially but will look to find the right house to buy as a primary residence.I assume that if a house I find through my marketing is habitable and is one I'd like to live in, that I wouldn't have trouble using traditional bank financing.

Ideally your FICO is > 740.I know what you mean, but they're still underwriting the property, as it has to meet guidelines for condition/habitability, appraisal amount, etc.

Personally collecting rent is a bad habit that is hard to break for tenants.  

By doing something no matter how small you are also developing  the habit of doing.