I'll stay fat and happy dropping fat checks off at the bank and getting google eyes and big smiles from the tellers doing my few lazy deals a month and hanging out all day wearing flip flops while you run, run, run."

I know it sucks, but that's why you have to hustle and get over the economy of scale as quick as you can. In

You can in essence use both at the same time.  

If you offer more you can in turn raise the price, and generally your reviews improve increasing your listing presence and the demand on your place.

Ideally I'd like to have the listings come to me automatically and pay $300 for any deal I that close rather than the fat cost for something that I may only use a few months per year.Thoughts or ideas?

Investors start getting suspicious about how long the trend will last or the credibility of new price levels -- a form of paranoia that can in itself drive prices back to previous or lower levels.This is a behavior and pattern you can expect regardless of what loan requirements are and has to do with consumer and market behavior, efficiency of markets, demand, supply etc...

Network with all of the lenders that you can; in fact, network with everyone that you know!

fat fingers! 

Handymen/women will always (or nearly always) break your heart.Collect a group of them so your rental can't be held hostage.It's a dating game so don't fall apart after one of them breaks a promise.Your best defense is a fat rolodex!

I agree with @Ro Maga - 203k breathes a big fat hassle, inevitable delays (ask me about lead paint...), and red tape... but it's worth it.