You can set up email queries where it emails you new listings, change of price/status, sold ....in your neighborhoods.

And the license doesn't have to be a long term monthly cost because you can always go inactive status with your state licensing agency and keep that status through continuing education requirements if necessary. 

Has anyone correlated the status of the property with the motivation of the seller?

Case in point, several months ago or maybe last year I set up alerts on MLS to send me emails whenever any property in my target areas comes on market or there is a status change.

Nothing long with leverage but if you are looking for a conventional loan they are not going to like your "self-employment" status.

Check into the discounts build into the program for vets with disability status also.

I just got my mortgage loan origination license finally cleared as "Active" status yesterday.

.- you get about 30% off in all your taxes because of the new homeowner status- you will get equity in refinance- every time you refinance you renew your new home owner status- interest is tax-deductible- depreciation is tax-deductibleHere are my initial questions:- There would be a balloon payment in the end, wouldn't there?

Of course, this doesn't factor in the renovation cost to bring the duplex to rent ready status.  

You could take the listing down and repost with updated criteria, so any further inquiries would now be on equal status..