So although the goal is increasing rental income, I would also focus on decreasing expenses.

At least we're not seeing steep increases like a couple of years ago and in some areas (PCB and 30A) there are even some price decreases.

So for me in majority part I am just scratching an itch, and I am exercising a muscle. 

Either a lender or an agent is going to want to feel confident that you are working with someone on the other side that will actually be able to help you and will get the deal done but as long as the professional you choose has that ability there is no reason that would increase/decrease your relationship with them.In terms of the credit check - this is important. 

In an environment where rates are decreasing you could temporarily get a larger reduction in monthly payments and (hopefully) be able to refinance at a lower, permanent rate sometime in the future.

As Brandon Turner, one of the BP OG's advises, evaluate at least 10 properties per week to see if they are worth investing in/flipping/whatever your focus is because this builds your "investor muscles" so you will know a good deal when it comes up.

Taking on deals like this that decrease wealth, such as low return high upfront cost whole life insurance, paying 19% interest on credit card debt, paying 2% annually to have a “wealth advisor” place your money in Vanguard Index Funds, paying for a high cost mortgage because you’re credit is bad, and “debt consolidation” programs are all reasons adding up to why many people can’t achieve financial independence and remain dependent on working every day to live paycheck to paycheck.There is a chance that in a particular circumstance any of these, including the program offer you describe, can be beneficial in certain specific cases.  

Wife is the brains, I'm just the muscle..and not a lot of that, lol.

On Hawaiian island, the number of visitors to Hawaii from the mainland US decreased by 10% but specific islands like Maui got hit the worst by 30-40% (?).

Had a nice positive cashflow until approximately 1 year ago when I had increase in property tax and HOA, plus had  insurance increase, which decreased my cash flow to nearly $0.