I feel like i have a lot of information but have no idea where to begin and/or what choices to make.

Find agents in the location of your choices and ask them questions.

Quote from @Choice Crosby III: Quote from @Matt Blackburn: Stephen Lincoln at Lincoln Realty is the best in town.

And, just as important, make sure to understand the implications of your choice to depreciate it in the year of purchase: your inability to take mileage deduction in the future, your taxable gain when you sell or trade it in, and other factors.

Who is making the design choices and who has the experience.   

Our principal broker decided to sell some of his rentals and gave us first choice.

So if we have a choice, we want to use the conventional methods first.  

Unless you like it and want to live there, which has nothing to do with numbers and everything to do with lifestyle choices.

When you are interviewing the companies of your choice pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeee see what company offers before asking what are the fees associated.

You simply make friends in the market of choice.