If you have the right systems and people in place to facilitate due diligence on a property independent of the seller/owner or broker representing the seller,  then no, you should not care if an agency that owns & purchases rentals is also selling properties. 

2) Can I market myself as independent on a 1099 basis?

There at lots of great suburban markets where the ordinance doesn’t apply such as  Independence, Raytown, Blue Springs, and Overland Park. 

There was talk of eventually allowing investors to independently sell their shares, but I haven't heard anything about that lately.

That is how we handle it.3)  If a fee is being charged, most stated require the agent to have you sign off on agreeing the the fee above and beyond the typically commission that is built into the commercial policy.Personally, I would suggest going with the independent agent.  

No, I’m not “buying” what the whitehousegov docs are pushing (if that’s even a thing).The statistics I cite are direct from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics which is an independent division of the labor department.  

Use an Independent Insurance Agency - every home and area and owner is different - no one company can service all situations.

You can learn to do this independently or get a rockstar REALTOR to lead the way.

If an inspector hiding something from you then hire an inspector that's independent of the realtor. 

I'm following this post because like David, I have great interest in starting a 5-6 room non-medical independent living facility.