Prices will reflect that, but buying dirt cheap means selling dirt cheap in a small town that isn't "related" to a larger market.Study real estate basics, location, market influences, inventory turn over, economic factors that effect value.

., The Wealth Club, Prosperity Group, Lifestyles Unlimited, Real Estate Titans, Renters Warehouse, and many more! 

My goal of getting into REI is to generate passive income to allow me to semi-retire in 10 years and live a more flexible lifestyle.

The biggest factor in the financing is the cash flow.

Lenders are going to take all factors into account including income, marital status, credit, etc. and through the rate they give you they are telling you what kind of risk you are to them.

Is broker support always a huge factor?

That said, I probably buy an overpriced cup of coffee a few times a week for the convenience factor :)I can understand that part of what makes TK properties what they are is the convenience factor.

However, if you add-in the cost of laying a subfloor... there goes the very attractive "cost" benefit factor,  To end my long worded response:  Smoothing the slab is more labor intensive but less costly than laying an entire subfloor, but definitely the way to go.  

The HOA fees in some places are astronomical as well, make sure you factor that in.

So if he has a good reputation that can be the deciding factor.