I'm thinking of switching to another title company but I'm not sure if that would just waste more time. 

.- Most contractors will cut corners, or worse, once they figure out they won't be watched closely:( Your job will also go to the bottom of their priority list.Monitoring progress is relatively easy: hire that same inspector to go by weekly or before any payments to take a VIDEO of:1) What was done2) Quality of workmanshipOne other thing you didn't ask about, payments to contractors.- They all want 50% down or as much as they can squeeze out of you. 

Apparently, Lee Arnold had gotten on him about my “wasting” so much of his (the loan officer’s) time.

I could go look up my transaction but I guess it would be a waste now :) 

If PropStream’s data isn’t cutting it, you might want to check out Prime Tracers.

We could cut things and not rely on it, but it would be a little uncomfortable.

That doesn't cut it for me.

Buy a fourplex so you have a place to live and three rentals to cut your teeth on.

In other words, if you don't fill your unit in the slow season because you're afraid it will cut into your high season revenue, will the high season revenue more than cover the difference?

That's where many cut their teeth in the business.