We're looking for people who we know we can trust will take of the customers we refer and in return run the occasional comp on properties if we need it.

If you work for a mortgage broker you will usually have to find your own clients but occasionally you can work under another MLO or mortgage broker and they will provide you leads in exchange for a cut of the commission.

I use agents occasionally even though I am licensed.

For me, I try to do regular 1-3% increases knowing that sometimes that is slower than market rent increase and occasionally its faster than market rent but that since I aim a little under market I am always a little under market rent and almost keep pace in the long run.

Your best bets will be the newer GC who's worked for someone else and is now going out on his own, or maybe the Mexican crew whose English is too rough to allow them to score the best homeowner jobs, or the semi-retired guy who only wants to work occasionally.

I'm sure there is the occasional manufacturing glitch.

At the same time, with a lease option deal, I view the seller as a “business partner” since I’ll be making monthly payments to him, reimbursing property taxes, and in occasional contact for ten years.

I have never used the documents directly, but I do refer to them occasionally.  

I would occasionally hold back a small amount from subs until I had my final inspection or a U&O but not a sale, contract, or home inspection. 

I had never seen that in 4 decades but I bought it and got title insurance so I know it can happen.I buy NPN VERY occasionally and like you for only one purpose to own the asset..