The local office is no help so we contacted the Vice President of operations COO of this very large company.

And if that is true, in markets where rents and home price appreciation has diverged significantly (i.e. flat to down rents with rapidly rising home prices, or vice versa), can any conclusions be drawn about those markets that might help guide decisions to invest (or not) in those markets?

If you're in an hot market (i.e. easy to rent), you can get away with holding less liquidity or vice-versa.

Otherwise, he may realize that you need him more than he needs you.It gets a little convoluted but it's fairly easy to distinguish what the deal would be worth if you farmed everything out vice relying on people who are bringing more to the table.

If your only raising rents 3-5% then a small lifestyle change on your tenants part (cable, pets, vices) could likely account for the increase. 

Is it best to go ahead and take it all now vice later?  

Always love visiting Chincoteague.. looked at homes down there as well in captains cove.. 

My wife's last day at work is this Friday the 13th (fitting), so our newly formed LLC will have its captain and we will be accelerating our research and outreach to find some deals.

You can get better access with a local bank, you get to know them and vice versa which will make it easier to get things done.

Hence, 9/10 you will run into issues where you grossly over-estimate your liquidity in the first few months and vice-versa.