Putting a deal together is very time consuming and many people are happy to compensate someone to take charge of all these tasks.

Should I be looking at a 15 yr term or opt for a 30 yr fixedWhat rates should I expect?

Unless you work in a very time-consuming field (doctor or lawyer), you can definitely manage it yourself. 

It would be time consuming, but getting the right fit is (as you've discovered) very valuable. 

It’s very time consuming going through guys and takes experience in how to ask the right questions and weed out tons of other calls.

All transactions must flow through the custodian, some investors find it inconvenient so they opt for IRA owned LLC (aka Checkbook IRA).You can certainly facilitate the discussion here, but @Justin G. is correct: this topic has been discussed on the forum many times at length and you can learn a ton by reading those discussions. 

.:   My followup question:   With the 2018 tax law changes, if the refinanced capital pulled out were used for some consumer/non-investment purposes, then is the interest expense on the new loan still tax deductible against the property's income?   

Better than a 50% chance that long term consumer debt (eg, mortgage) rates will go up should the fed announce that short term interbank debt (eg, the "fed rate") is going down.

Basically, the expectation that a purely retail FTHB "American Consumer" is going to just find something on the MLS at full retail market price, find a GC and pay the full retail market price for their services, full retail price for all materials, and all that, is completely out of whack.

Thank you all for the feedback, you've given me some great food for thought and I will have a discussion with them and will let them know they can opt out of the lease at any time.