In PA, the broker/PM holds the deposit in escrow at a named financial institution and has under PA L/T laws 30 days after move out/possession to send detailed report of damages and balance of deposit check (or notice of amount due) to the tenant.Second:  whether or not the PM notified the tenant(s) is open to debate, "he said-she said". 

Then it’s more of personal feeling vs a financial decision.

the per door rate is an incredibly oversimplified view of the financials a project will produce.What's the expense ratio?

I don’t have any prior experience with real estate would would be the best way to get started that wouldn’t be too much of a financial risk here in the Las Vegas area 

We then paid the company after the work was done.We planned to fix up the rest of the house as we could.After several months we realized the friend that had offered my a wife a "dream job"  was in financial trouble and not able to pay her.

Current market rents appear to be higher than the 5% cap that his lease extension allows so it would be financially rewarding.

I ended up paying $3K in fines and now I am having him prosecuted by the NY Attorney General's Office of Financial Fraud.

My dilemma is that I want to have access to mls and properties but I don’t think it would make financial sense to have to pay broker fees if I am only buying 1 or 2 houses per year for now.

I believe this will help our family not feel as we are sacraficing as much in this path towards financial freedom . 

AS for owner occ homes or new construction.. folks buy those on need and emotion.. not on financial return calcs..