I'd hesitate to reach around the other agent in any manner. 

The idea being that FHA wants to know this property is sustainable in the event that you move out. 

Do you ask a realtor to run comps for your property on a periodic basis, Zillow Zestimate (probably not), run your own comps, or some other manner of valuation?

If someone answers questions in a thoughtful, respectful and intelligent manner with strong subject matter expertise, you can be somewhat assured that person or company takes their business, their reputation and career seriously and won't be a fly by night scam artist. 

My recommendation is to involve yourself in some manner going forward whether it’s investor relations, debt, analysis, or high level strategy.

Taxes are dirt cheap - $~40/month.I have the capital and desire to jump in, but I just haven’t built up a team of contractors yet to feel confident enough that the work can get done in a timely manner.

The refinance R is difficult with a VA loan due to the extreme LTV, so do not rely on being able to extract that sweat equity but realize it is there regardless   FHA loans have sustainability requirements for triplex and quads that prevents them from being purchased via FHA loan.  

I have a few follow questions to some of your much appreciated points. 1) Who would you ask for referrals and how would you ask to ensure that you would be taken care of in the same manner that the person referring was?

Peoples,I've seen nothing but success, insane appreciation, great cash flow everywhere, but will these trends sustain itself everywhere in the metropolitan areas over the next 1-3 years?

In other words, if you’re think today’s overall homebuying conditions are sustainable (I’ll bet you sell real estate), you’d argue the top of the rankings are simply the nation’s “hottest” markets.