Comparing using an IRA to invest in real estate to investing in real estate with personal funds, however, is an apples and oranges kind of comparison for the most part - the situations are just so different.The best way to evaluate a self-directed IRA is as compared to other things you might do with the IRA account. 

To be able to do an apples-to-apples comparison, you always want to look at the best rate you can get and the associated fees.Your mortgage broker is BSing about UPMIP refund.

It is our understanding that this proposal was originally presented because the city code enforcement department expressed that they could not collect fines placed on so called "bad apple landlords" who are multiple code enforcement offenders.

Its work for Apple or nothing? 

As I'm sure you know, it would be hard to compare apples to apples with units in this market and someone with lower standards and/or section 8 is definitely going to have an easier time finding tenants.

Residential HELOC's tend to calculate interest per month X average daily balance (average of all days per month) so this reduces the impact for financiall disciplined folks who routinely spend less than income taken in each month.7) Wouldnt paying extra with a regular conventional 30 year fixed (Constant payment mortgage - CPM) be the same or better, apples to apples?

It only takes a few bad apples to hurt everyone.

I've asked my agent to run a CMA for me on some properties, but it seems impossible to know if it's apples-to-apples, given that I don't know if those are pre- or post-rehab. 

I have a note to leave him in the morning, letting him know how awesome he was, and a Apple Bee's gift certificate.

- I see some other agriculture in the area (Pistachios, apples, vineyards).