My issue: Even with a college degree, entreprenurial experience, and project management I can’t seem to break in after 5-6 months of applying.

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Wonder if anyone has run into the issue I'm havingMy wife and her parents went in on a duplex together and the three of them are all on the title and loan.My wife and I are in escrow on a house in Citrus Heights.

@Nathan Grubb  This is not likely the fuel source, I have induction and love it but I don't think that will solve the issue and requires your tenants to switch pots. 

I honestly should have more money saved up considering my years of working full-time, however younger financial mistakes have been a painful lesson and I regret not purchasing a property sooner/younger.My most important and immediate goal right now is to purchase a property.I am in (what I perceive to be) a relatively high cost real estate area. 

This is a substance of the transaction vs. structure issue. 

It sounds like a communication issue. 

Finally a fixed fee could work, but same underlying issue exist which is getting an accurate estimate of their consumption.I understand they're perspective, but I just feel like the tenant is just trying to cut corners.

While this might sound low compared to some high-yield investments, it's steady and relatively safe given the high down payment and the over-market selling price.In conclusion, while the 3.03% CAGR might seem small, remember that this calculation doesn’t consider other potential financial benefits like tax advantages or the value of having the capital upfront.

A few important things I would be looking for:1) the experience and credentials of the broker who supervises the company as well as the lead property manager2) the services they offer and how they line up with your needs and expectations3) the use of technology to make their job and yours easier 4) if they have a landlord-tenant attorney on retainer to help guide them on legal issues (not to mention the creation of lease agreement, landlord forms and notices, etc.)5) their process and policy for a) listing, b) application, c) tenant selection, d) routine inspections, e) maintenance services, f) property and tenancy update reports to you, g) lease enforcement policy, and f) move-out process.6) property owner reviews (you can't always rely on Google reviews, because they may not reflect actual quality of the company, but still) 7) beneficial programs for both owner and tenant 8) a property management agreement that would indicate they know what they're doing and have the experience to know what matters in a PMA.