Case in point: my Alma mater is literally 10x the cost from when I attended...graduates are not 10x richer, happier, etc. 

Look out also for where the national big-box retailers are going such as Costco, Target, Wal-Mart and Home Depot these often go hand in hand with increased population.Old-fashioned word of mouth is one of the best ways to assess the growth of a neighborhood.

And no don't have the rent roll just off word of mouth as of now

Except for word of mouth, what is the best way to get the word out about me renting and how do I figure out what price to shoot for for rent.

We generate most of our leads through pure hustle: door knocking, bandit signs, and word of mouth from satisfied clients.

There is a standard work flow we use in the industry, (for example plumber is first, then HVAC and so forth) and if you follow it, your project will run smoother and your trades will be happier with you.  

The art of buying houses comes down to solving a problem, you can find that problem if your mouth is moving.

In this case, the first lender's whiny attitude and emotional appeal that I'm taking food out of his kids' mouths doesn't sit well with me at all. 

Take your time find a better area and you'll be happier with your purchase.

They manage about 8 units for me right now and i couldn't be happier.