I can understand them wanting to re-evaluate after everything shakes out.

Do you have any recommendations for people we should meet with, wholesalers who are moving and shaking, any property management companies that could assist us if we find a home that needs some work, OR some contractors who are reliable... what am I missing?

This application will show you did your due diligence to make sure the buyers could afford the payments.You'll need more then just the application and a hand shake also to document the transaction properly, depending on how you do it, there's a few different ways, such as a Land Contract (Contract for Deed for example), Deed of Trust, Promissory Note, etc.

Shake hands and look them in the eye.

I get home from work and the jobs not done. they didn't put the trim on (they claim the other contractors took it and that since it was expensive they wouldn't be able to get more) the sink was loose and shaking around, the shower door was hung inside out (yes, there are stickers that clearly day how it's supposed to sit) and over all it's just not a good job.

Long Beach just passed a sugar coated form of rent control and the same tenants groups like TenantsTogether.org are backed by oil and labor groups in Long Beach doing closed door hand shakes.  

My washer tends to shake quite a bit...

The exterior on the other hand.. old cedar shake siding looks rough, needs a new roof.. windows and doors are pretty old.

There will be more and more houses listed, more that you can shake a stick at as you finish college and track those listings..I would not let the pre-approval rush you.

Careful shaking hands!