Let's assume:Your house is a 2/12/1's in your neighborhood rent for $1000/mo and sell for $100k3/2 homes in your neighborhood rent for $1250/mo and sell for $125k.In a simplified scenario such as this, the added value ($250/mo in rent, and $25k in resale value) becomes pretty clear, and from there you can calculate the ROI. 

Sometimes the trade-offs of lower returns are worth it, when it simplifies your life.

Not to get too technical, the simplified calculation is: yield maintenance = remaining payments present value x (loan rate - treasury rate).

They are the ones who will be your eyes and look at the property for you, they know the areas they service well, and will be able to give expert advice on where to stay away from, they often times will be the ones who do renovations for you (I highly suggest finding someone who does this as it really simplifies the process for you the investor) they know all of the local professionals that can help you with purchasing your property, such as: Realtors, lawyers, inspectors and Mortgage Brokers. 

I am completely over simplifying, but that is the general idea. 

What i have found though (and learning) is to account for the processing time through their online payment system, it simplifies it but might consider other ways at least for the initial SD and first months in the future to allow for fewer delays.

Well, to simplify, you can always write at asking and give them a short period (1-2 days) to respond. 

I'm an agent and had trouble getting through your paragraph long question because I saw a squirrel out my window.Can you simplify your question for those of us more elementary in the tech world?

@Christian Domingo Here's a super over-simplified road map I followed that will hopefully get you asking some more questions...1) Figure out your financing situation - how much can you put down?

Figure out what they are looking for, then go out and find it.You can still start looking for good deals before you meet investors but knowing what is in demand would sure simplify your job.