We've started by buying larger home where we could live on one floor and rent the lower floor.

Your past in the military service should help you to do this.  

We are fixing up the first home (new flooring, a/c, paint) and should have it leased quickly.

While many states recognize the old CFD or Bond for Deed, they have issues at the federal level, financing requirements, servicing problems and with title insurance.

Hardwood floors and tile or high quality vinyl floors.

I have been researching for awhile and have just about resigned myself to signing up for LexisNexis for skip trace needs. Obvious downside is the high monthly recurring cost. Has anyone else used them before? Worth th...

Carrington title services. 

Is there a call forwarding service similar to google voice, but will allow you to have more than one number forward to the same phone?

Yes, if you pay, you get a copy.It's a CU, not a bank, sounds like a portfolio loan and not a secondary market product, so yes, the can evaluate the collateral as they please, but they are going above and beyond prudent lending to much tougher requirements, not great marketing for loan services but they can.Market value is what we generally work with in real estate, but we do have other valuations, liquidation, salvage value, tax and estate valuations.

I did a lot of direct marketing using the data from Default Research and they stopped their service.