They will likely be open to brokering the deal as an agent with a commission if you approach them though.

With that frame of reference, here are my questions:1) Do you as an investor care about the Fund vs Broker/Dealer approach?

I would increase to 3300.Another approach you can take is tell then you will do 6 months lease with 3250 and then increase the rent to 3500 after 6 months.Even if you can get new tenants soon you still may have to small repairs and paint touchups and stuff when the current tenants move out.Again this is just my 2Cents. 

But we could do the short sale approach.  

If that includes choosing and managing your own tenants, so be it.If someone asks me, I would comfortably say I'm an investor who also chooses to be a landlord - I'm only a landlord because I've judged it to be the most compatible approach to reaching my investment goals (which, I would add, are not entirely financial).

I pretty much base my life around these things.I’d like to move there so I can have a hands on approach on my investments.

Fall/Winter is approaching, and that is the slow season for them, because most people don't want to do a big remodel over the holidays. 

Sandy Koulfax, Don Drysdale  Harmon Killabrew   Hank Aaron.. am I dating myself or do you even know who these guys are  LOLWe have had a nice run in our sports teams..

My take on the approach to my facet is relationships.

I think I'm going to try that approach as well continuing to listen to the podcasts and reading the material.