Utilities altogether is about $250 a month, internet is $90 a month for the 1T fiber (we want fast internet for 6 people), 5% vacancy, Lawn care $120 a month, Pest control $30 a month, and we do bi-weekly cleaning of the common area at $200 a month.

I want to be in this for the long haul but I still want to work as fast and efficiently as possible!!

Our average home price is also only around $250K making it a very affordable market.I highly encourage you to get started as I love real estate but I caution you on moving too fast too quickly. 

They use it as a springboard to other things as fast as they can. 

Likely, these off market properties will move fast so being fast is key.

In Phoenix, I might call up a friend who invests in mixed-use properties south of Roosevelt Row, and that friend might know a local title rep who’s been working with out-of-state buyers who like to pull the trigger fast.

they will lose a ton of interest on 5.5% loan if we refi with someone else, but it would likely be 7% so its a lose-lose, they will lose our business and it could be in their favor to just drop the abusive term, ridiculous that a conventional loan doesn't let you keep the place after moving out. never saw that coming and this type of "pulling a fast one" is exactly why the other buyer who couldn't be present on closing specified that the power of attorney for signing closing documents was limited to exclude anything unnecessary. 

Ultimately, it depends on your goals (low rates, fast turnaround, etc.).

We did start using TurboTenant and Facebook market place when Padsplit couldn't seem to fill them as fast as I would like.

You want the fast-track for finding whos-who, call everyone.