I am not spending $40k on their next step, but this looked like a good investment ($1500 and a money back offer).

This might be better if you’re uncertain about refinancing or want to keep more liquidity for other opportunities.Since you’ll move in 5 years, it really depends on how confident you are about refinancing.

What I mean by that is that paying for leads that get sent to you just because you are paying for them is not smart scale right now, it costs too much for lukewarm.I was on Zillow Flex with my team of 50 for years and crushed it, but we had to kiss a lot of frogs at 35 percent referral fee.

For the past year, listening to podcasts, doing research, and debating when the right time to start this journey, we have decided to get over the fears and just focus on the analysis and dive right in.

If you ask the manager to justify a fee and he starts hemming and hawing, move on or require them to remove the fee.

That highly depends on your pay structure.

Just like you, I leaned on BiggerPockets when I was starting out—super helpful!

Thanks, DavidSteve hit the nail on the head.

Do I need to have them sign a new lease with my company name on it not changing any of the terms or do I just inform them on how to pay the rent? 

A lot of this process depends on your laws regarding STR and Mid term leases/occupancy?